Training Requirements for Non-Traditional and Expanded Vaccinators

This training requirement is for anyone in these groups whose primary responsibility is only related to the administration of COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., mass vaccination clinic, licensed facility) under the authority of another responsible institution/organization/entity.

• Optometrists
• Podiatrists
• Dental hygienists
• Postgraduate training licensees
• Veterinarians
• Licensed midwives
  
• Respiratory care practitioners
• Physician assistants
• Medical assistants
• Naturopathic doctors
• Inactive, expired, or lapsed licensees: physician, surgeon, registered nurse, pharmacist, midwife, respiratory care practitioner, dentist, physician assistant, podiatrist, optometrist, or veterinarian licenses
• Students: medical, pharmacy, dental, registered nursing, vocational nursing, midwife, physician assistant, respiratory care practitioner, podiatry, optometry, and veterinary

These vaccinators will need to complete the following training before participating in mass vaccination clinics or other institution or community sponsored clinics:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Training: General Overview of Immunization Best Practices for Healthcare Providers. (Please complete all training modules.)
  

Key Resources (Optional)

Recommended for New Vaccinators

The following resources provide instruction on preparing and administering vaccines. Clinic organizers may provide site logistics training and demonstrated proficiency prior to a vaccinator’s shift.

• Vaccine Preparation & Administration:
  Pfizer (PDF) (video) | Moderna (PDF) | Janssen (PDF) (video)
  
• Pfizer Low Dead-Volume Syringes and Needles (PDF)
  
• Preparing Multi-dose Vials video
• Intramuscular (IM) Injection for Adults job aid (PDF) | video
  
• Injection Safety (PDF)
  
• Skills Checklist for Vaccine Administration job aid (PDF)
• Pre-vaccination Screening Questionnaire job aid (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
  
• How to Become a Volunteer Vaccinator Webinar (archived) | video | slides (PDF)
  

Other Helpful Lesson(s)

• CDC’s Vaccine Administration in-depth training covers all routes and sites of administration, prevention of administration errors, and resources)
• CDC’s Vaccine Storage and Handling in-depth training covers cold chain management, storage and handling, and temperature monitoring)

Program Enrollment

Registration for the program is not currently open for non-traditional vaccinators to order and administer COVID-19 vaccine in their offices.

Program enrollment is currently focused on small physician practices who routinely vaccinate their patients as well as providers that are prioritized for vaccine allocation by local health departments. Providers who do not routinely vaccinate may contact the COVID Call Center about eligibility.

When enrollment opens up for non-traditional vaccinators, providers must be credentialed/licensed in the jurisdiction where vaccination takes place, complete all required training, and comply with federal and state requirements all of which are outlined in the California Vaccination Program.

COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use by California providers under an FDA emergency use authorization (EUA). In order to participate in the program, providers will need to register and agree to a number of specific conditions (PDF). Among these are three important ones to consider before enrolling. Participating vaccinators must:

1. Submit order requests through the myCAVax system and maintain current organization and provider contact information.
2. Report COVID-19 doses administered within 24 hrs of administration to your local immunization registry (IIS) (e.g. CAIR2, Healthy Futures, or SDIR).
3. Report COVID-19 doses in inventory daily to the VaccineFinder website.

View more enrollment resources.