Do Immunisation Nurses
have to wear gloves
during vaccination?
The short answer is NO.
The standard procedures for immunisation have shifted toward a more practical, evidence-based approach that prioritizes hand hygiene over barriers like gloves for routine injections.
It is a common misconception that gloves are required for vaccinations. Avoiding unnecessary glove use actually allows for better manual dexterity and reduces the risk of skin irritation for both the nurse and the patient.
Here is the current breakdown based on the Australian Immunisation Handbook and clinical standards for 2026:
Are gloves necessary?
No, not for routine vaccinations.
Guidelines state that gloves are not routinely required for intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) injections. Vaccination is considered a "minimal contact" procedure.
The Golden Rule:
Hand hygiene (using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water) before and after the procedure is the essential requirement.When Gloves are used:
A nurse may choose to wear gloves if:
The nurse has a cut or broken skin on their hands.
The patient has broken skin or a skin infection at the site.
There is a high likelihood of contact with body fluids (though this is rare with a standard needle poke).
Is washing/swabbing the skin necessary?
Generally, no. If the patient's skin is visibly clean, there is no clinical requirement to "wash" or swab the area with an alcohol wipe.
Why the Change?
Research has shown that if the skin is clean, swabbing with alcohol does not further reduce the (already extremely low) risk of infection. In fact, if the alcohol isn't allowed to dry completely (about 30–60 seconds), it can actually make the sting of the needle worse.When swabbing is done:
If the skin is visibly dirty, it should be cleaned with a single-use swab or soap and water.