Doctors and physician associates giving COVID-19 vaccines legally

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The different legal mechanisms to give the vaccine are described dependent on General Medical Council (GMC) registration.

Doctor registered with the GMC

This group can:

  • work under the National Protocol (all stages)
  • act as clinical supervisor for the National Protocol under Regulation 3A
  • write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD)
  • work under a PSD written by an appropriate practitioner

This group cannot:

  • work under the Patient Group Direction (PGD)

Doctor provisionally registered with the GMC

This group can:

  • work under the National Protocol (all stages)
  • write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD)
  • work under a PSD written by an appropriate practitioner

This group cannot:

  • act as clinical supervisor for the National Protocol under Regulation 3A
  • work under the Patient Group Direction (PGD)

Doctor no longer registered with the GMC

This group can:

  • work under the National Protocol (stages 2-4)
  • work under a PSD written by an appropriate practitioner

This group cannot:

  • act as clinical supervisor for the National Protocol under Regulation 3A
  • write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD)
  • work under the Patient Group Direction (PGD)

Physician Associate

This group can:

  • work under the National Protocol (stages 2-4)
  • work under a PSD written by an appropriate practitioner

This group cannot:

  • act as clinical supervisor for the National Protocol under Regulation 3A
  • write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD)
  • work under the Patient Group Direction (PGD)

Student Doctor or student Physician Associate

This group can:

  • work under the National Protocol (stages 2-4)
  • work under a PSD written by an appropriate practitioner

This group cannot:

  • act as clinical supervisor for the National Protocol under Regulation 3A
  • write a Patient Specific Direction (PSD)
  • work under the Patient Group Direction (PGD)

Update history

  1. The current content is still accurate.
  1. Title amended
  1. The current content is still accurate.
  1. The current content is still accurate.
  1. The current content is still accurate.
  1. The current content is still accurate.
  1. The current content is still accurate.
  1. Published