3.2 The Process of Safe Administration of the COVID-19 Vaccine and Waste Disposal

The Seven Steps to Safe Injections

1. Clean workspace
2. Hand hygiene
3. Sterile safety-engineered AD syringe
4. Sterile vial of vaccine and diluent
5. Skin cleaning
6. Appropriate collection of sharps waste
7. Appropriate waste management

Administration of Intramuscular Injection

1. Perform hand hygiene between each vaccine administration.
2. Hold the AD syringe barrel with fingers and thumb on the sides of the barrel and with the bevel of the needle facing upwards.
3. Gently stretch and support the skin with the other hand and quickly push the needle at a 90° angle down through the skin into the muscle.
4. Depress the plunger smoothly, do not move the needle under the skin.
5. Pull the needle out quickly and smoothly at the same angle as it went in.
6. Discard the needle and syringe straight into the safety box.