The power of prevention: boosting vaccine uptake for better outcomes

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Vaccines play a vital role in preventing disease and allowing people to live healthy lives. After clean water, they are the most effective public health intervention in the world.

However, even before the pandemic, a worrying trend was emerging in which the uptake of key immunisation programmes in the UK, and particularly childhood vaccines such as MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), was declining. This has led to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, hospitalisation and tragic, entirely avoidable deaths.

While welcome progress has been made, particularly since the pandemic, in diversifying how vaccines are delivered (the ‘supply side’ of vaccination), there has been a less concerted approach to the behavioural drivers (the ‘demand side’) of uptake.

This briefing paper focuses on three broad factors involved in people's attitudes to vaccination — confidence, complacency and convenience — which in turn influence uptake. Taking each in turn, it sets out practical steps for the new Government that would help keep the UK protected against vaccine-preventable diseases, reducing
unwarranted variation in health outcomes while freeing up valuable, limited resource in the rest of the health system.

Re:State's research on this topic was kindly supported by Novavax.

Endorsements:

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive, National Voices: "Tailoring vaccine rollouts to specific demographics, and effectively communicating the benefits of vaccination through trusted members of local communities is key to ensuring people do not miss out on this vital form of healthcare. It’s great to see this recognised in Re:State’s new report, as they highlight the importance of tackling health inequalities through community outreach in vaccine rollouts."

Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive, Company Chemists' Association: "We welcome this timely report from Re:State which makes several sensible recommendations which taken together would deliver a step-change in vaccine uptake. We are delighted that the report recognises the important and growing role of community pharmacies in administering vaccines and driving uptake. Re:State’s recommendation that the next contractual framework should define all adult vaccinations as ‘advanced services’ is a no-brainer. This would make it easier for pharmacies to deliver the vaccinations that patients and the public need. We urge the Government and NHS England to take this recommendation forward."

Professor Kate Ardern, former Director of Public Health, Wigan Council: "I very warmly welcome this very timely report from Re:State on how England might boost vaccine uptake for better outcomes. The report’s recommendations set out five very clear and practical actions which if implemented could help turn around national performance and establish a resilient locally led system which recognises the centrality of the role of Directors of Public Health and local government to the planning, commissioning and delivery of place-based immunisation and vaccination programmes which effectively tackle the challenges of access, uptake and equity."