Background and legislation
A Vaccine Group Direction (VGD) is a legal mechanism to support the administration of UK licensed vaccines within nationally commissioned vaccination programmes (e.g. commissioned by an NHS body or Local Authority).
Vaccines may also be administered under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD), Patient Group Direction (PGD) or a HMR 2012 Schedule 17 exemption.
Only vaccines administered for the purpose of providing protection against an infectious disease caused by a virus or bacteria can be administered via a VGD; the use of VGDs does not extend to any other type of vaccine.
VGDs permit registered healthcare practitioners, listed in legislation, to clinically assess and administer vaccinations to individuals without the need for them to be prescribed.
VGDs allow some tasks within the vaccination process, such as vaccine preparation, administration and record keeping to be delegated to suitably trained registered and non-registered healthcare practitioners. Each VGD will specifically state which tasks can be delegated and to whom and this may vary between VGDs, so it is important to check each VGD carefully. VGDs do not permit delegation of clinical assessment to receive the vaccine nor gaining informed consent, these activities must be undertaken only by registered healthcare practitioners listed in the legislation.
VGDs were introduced into legislation in April 2026 and build on the experience gained from the National Protocols used during the pandemic to support the administration of ‘flu and coronavirus vaccines.
How VGDs differ from PGDs
VGDs permit some tasks within them, such as administration or record keeping, to be delegated to suitably trained and competent registered and non-registered healthcare practitioners whereas PGDs do not allow any delegation. Each VGD will specifically state which tasks can be delegated and to whom.
Who can develop a VGD
VGDs can only be developed by a national health protection agency; within England this is the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
No local development or amendment of a VGD by organisations is permitted.
The legislation states what must be included in a VGD, largely following that required for PGDs.
Who can authorise a VGD
VGDs must be authorised by the commissioner. In England this will be an NHS England regional team or a Local Authority.
The requirements for VGD authorisation are the same as for PGDs. For more information please refer to Authorising and preparing to use a PGD (SPS page)
Who can work under a VGD
Within a VGD the clinical assessment and consenting of an individual for vaccination can only be undertaken by registered healthcare practitioners named in the legislation. These listed registered healthcare practitioners are the same as those permitted to work under PGDs.
VGDs permit delegation of certain tasks to other registered and non-registered healthcare practitioners, which tasks can be delegated, and to whom, will be determined by the national health protection agency writing the VGD (e.g. UKHSA) and will be clearly stated within each VGD.
All registered health practitioners have a duty of care and are professionally accountable for the care they provide, including those tasks they delegate to non-registered staff.
Supervision of delegated tasks
Where a registered healthcare practitioner delegates any part of the VGD process to another practitioner they must provide supervision throughout that part of the process. This supervision must occur whether or not the practitioner a task is delegated to is registered or not. In practice this means they must physically remain within the same premises or clinical area throughout the episode of care and be available to intervene if required.
Training for healthcare professionals working under a VGD
All healthcare practitioners, whether registered or not, working under a VGD must be fully trained and competent to do so.
The required training requirements will be set out in each VGD.
Authorising healthcare professionals to work under VGDs
Healthcare practitioners, both registered and non-registered, must be individually named and authorised by their employer to work under a VGD.
How staff authorisation records are made and retained will be for local determination, following local organisational policy. For further advice please refer to Retaining legal mechanism documentation (SPS page)
Records management
All records of vaccine administration under a VGD must be made in line with local policy and/or national record keeping guidance.
For more information, please refer to Retaining legal mechanism documentation (SPS page)