Which healthcare professional is primarily responsible for administering vaccines and maintaining immunization records?

• A. Pharmacists
• B. Nurses and other clinicians
• C. Dietitians
• D. Radiologists

Answer: (B)

Vaccination administration and keeping immunization records are tasks tied to direct patient care. Nurses and other clinicians are trained to assess patients for contraindications, give vaccines using proper technique, monitor for adverse reactions, and promptly document each immunization in the patient’s chart and in immunization registries. This documentation captures the vaccine type, lot number, manufacturer, site of administration, and date, building an accurate immunization history that guides future care and public health reporting. While pharmacists also administer vaccines in many settings, the primary, traditional role described here is carried out by nurses and other clinicians who are routinely involved in direct patient care. Dietitians and radiologists focus on nutrition management and imaging, respectively, and do not handle routine vaccine administration or immunization record-keeping.