What is typically obtained before administering immunizations?

Before administering immunizations, it is standard practice to obtain a consent form from the patient or their guardian. This consent form serves to inform the individual about the vaccine, including its purpose, potential side effects, and any relevant health considerations. Consent is crucial to ensure that the patient understands what they are agreeing to and provides legal protection for the health care provider administering the vaccine.

While authority from a practitioner is important in the overall process of administering vaccines—since a licensed healthcare provider must be the one to provide immunizations—this does not typically manifest as a formal document obtained before each individual administration. Instead, it is understood that the healthcare provider has the professional and legal authority to administer vaccines based on their training and licensure.

Other options, like waivers or written policies, do not directly relate to the immediate requirement of obtaining consent specifically for vaccines, which is why they do not align with this context as closely as the consent form does.