How to give a vaccine
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Vaccines prevent serious infections, and every program teaches how to give them. Screening and correct site choice keep the shot safe and effective.
What you need
- Vaccine and diluent if needed
- Correct needle and syringe
- Alcohol swab
- Gloves if policy requires
- Epinephrine for anaphylaxis
- Vaccine information sheet
Step by step
Screen the patient
Ask about prior severe allergic reactions, current illness, pregnancy and weak immunity. Live vaccines are usually avoided in pregnancy and in people with weak immune systems. [1]
Share the information sheet
Give the current Vaccine Information Statement and answer questions before the shot. [1]
Check the vaccine
Confirm the right vaccine, dose and age, the expiry date and that it was stored at the correct temperature. [1]
Choose site and needle
For adults and older children, use the deltoid, about two to three finger widths below the shoulder bone. Infants receive shots in the outer thigh. [2]
Inject
Clean the skin, let it dry and inject intramuscular vaccines at 90 degrees. Aspiration is not needed. [2]
Observe
Keep the patient seated for 15 minutes to watch for fainting or allergic reaction. Have epinephrine ready. [1]
Document
Record vaccine, manufacturer, lot number, site, date, information sheet date and who gave it. [1]
Common errors
- Injecting too high on the shoulder, which can injure the joint.
- Letting the patient leave without the 15-minute observation.
- Not recording the lot number.
Typical intramuscular sites by age (follow the current CDC schedule) [1]
| Age | Site | Needle length |
|---|---|---|
| Infants under 12 months | Outer thigh (vastus lateralis) | 1 inch (5/8 inch in newborns) |
| Toddlers 1 to 2 years | Thigh preferred; deltoid if muscle is enough | 1 to 1.25 inch thigh; 5/8 to 1 inch deltoid |
| Children 3 and older and adults | Deltoid | 5/8 to 1.5 inch by body size |
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- Open RN, Nursing Pharmacology 2e (CC BY 4.0)
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Pharmacology 2e and Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College), licensed under CC BY 4.0. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.