Not all residents with an appointed PoA lack capacity to consent to vaccination. A person may still have capacity for simple decisions like vaccination, even if they cannot consent to more complex treatments such as surgery.
Here you will find information on when a resident does and doesn’t have capacity to consent to vaccination and how to prepare in your Care Home for a visit from the vaccination team.
This information is also available on the Vaccination – Information on Power of Attorney webpage on this website.
Important:
Verbal consent will be taken from the PoA at the time of vaccination.
When does a resident have capacity to consent to vaccination?
A resident can provide informed consent if they:
- Show consistency in decision-making (e.g. given the same information again, they make the same choice).
- Understand and act on the information given about the vaccination.
- Use this information to make a decision.
- Communicate their decision clearly to the vaccinator.
When a resident doesn’t have capacity to consent to vaccination?
When a resident cannot provide informed consent, they must have:
- A valid Certificate of Incapacity under Section 47 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, specifically covering vaccination or medical treatment/interventions. This can be requested from the GP if needed.
- An acting PoA with welfare powers.
Care Home Preparation Before a Vaccination Team Visit
To avoid delays, staff should ensure the following documents are ready for review by the vaccination team:
- A copy of your full power of attorney document or certificate of appointment for the nurse to review
- The certificate of incapacity under Section 47 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 which is valid for the administration of vaccinations
