Information for Care Home Staff: Power of Attorney for Vaccination
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.
On this page 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.
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
Page created Novemeber 2025 DB & HS
