Community based childhood vaccination intervention in a deprived, diverse population in England

Issue/problem

Childhood vaccine uptake in England has declined over the past decade, with persistent geographical and socio-economic inequalities. Deprived, ethnically diverse communities face barriers including access, trust, and communication challenges. Addressing these inequities is relevant to similar underserved settings across Europe.

Description of the practice

A multi-component, multi-agency intervention was implemented from September 2022 across eight GP practices within Modality AWC Partnership in Yorkshire. Primary care collaborated with community organisations to improve uptake during regional and national decline. The approach included community engagement, culturally tailored communication, and improved access through flexible, community-based clinics. An exploratory case study used qualitative interviews with seven purposively sampled stakeholders (GPs, nurse leads, community leads, and charity partners). Findings were triangulated with document review and interpreted using the COM-B model.

Results

Six key themes underpinning success were identified: (1) multi-component design, (2) community engagement, (3) integration with child health services, (4) continuity of trusted staff, (5) multi-agency collaboration, and (6) improved accessibility. The intervention influenced all COM-B domains. Psychological capability improved through multilingual communication. Physical opportunity increased via convenient community clinics, including a local shopping centre, and better access to trusted professionals. Motivation was strengthened through continuity of care and trust in providers.

Lessons

Community-embedded, multi-component approaches that build trust and integrate vaccination into wider child health services can address barriers, including access, among underserved populations. Findings are transferable to other deprived settings aiming to reduce vaccination inequalities.

Key messages

• Community-embedded, multi-agency approaches combining tailored communication, flexible access, and trusted providers can address childhood vaccination uptake in underserved populations.

• Integrating vaccination into broader child health services and strengthening local partnerships addresses access, trust, and communication barriers, reducing inequalities in deprived communities.