24/31 Increasing uptake of vaccinations in populations where there is low uptake

  • Published: 30 April 2024
  • Version: V1.0
  • 3 min read

The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme would like to draw researchers’ attention to the commissioning brief below. This brief was first advertised in 2021 and has been updated to include additional priority population groups, as it remains an area of research interest in which we would like to invite applications.

Vaccination is a highly cost-effective health intervention. Key to the CORE20PLUS5 national NHS England approach to healthcare, vaccination can reduce health inequalities, increase access to health services and even reduce poverty. Ensuring vaccination coverage is essential not only overall, but also within underserved communities and groups in which uptake is low, to help prevent disease and promote health.

On 17 May 2022, NICE published guidance on ‘Vaccine uptake in the general population’ [NG218]. Although the guidance aims to increase the uptake of all vaccines by everyone who is eligible to support the NHS Long Term Plan, it highlights gaps in the evidence around how to engage with and increase vaccine rates in populations with low uptake, in support of

The PHR Programme would like to commission research evaluating population level interventions delivered in non-NHS settings, which impact the uptake of existing vaccinations already available through a UK vaccination programme. More information on UK vaccination and screening programmes can be found by registering with the FutureNHS platform. 

Applications for research into the development of new vaccines or evaluation of the effectiveness of existing vaccines should be directed to the NIHR’s EME or HTA Programmes respectively. 

Applicants to this call are encouraged to specify and explain their choice of vaccination and choice of population for study. The PHR programme is particularly interested in vaccination uptake in:

  • Older people aged 65+
  • Boys
  • School age children including children who are home-schooled
  • Pregnant women
  • People with physical or learning disabilities
  • Underserved communities and groups (e.g. ethnic minorities, migrants and asylum seekers, gypsy, roma and travelling communities)

It is important that research findings are relevant and generalisable to other population groups with, for example, similar socio-cultural or socio-demographics. How services are delivered and how different models of delivery compare, are of key interest.

Research topics of interest/key questions include (but are not limited to):

  1. What are the most effective ways of increasing uptake in populations or groups with low routine vaccine uptake in the UK?
  2. What are the most effective ways of reaching underserved groups and removing stigma and barriers to access existing vaccination programmes?
  3. What are the important messages regarding vaccines and how should the messages be tailored and delivered to encourage and sustain uptake in specific groups? How do we reduce negative perceptions about vaccination and increase acceptability and understanding of their benefits?
  4. What changes implemented to facilitate increased access to the Covid-19 vaccine (e.g. vaccine centres, buses, pop-up locations etc.) could be adapted and/or adopted to increase uptake of other vaccinations e.g. flu vaccination and children’s vaccinations (e.g. MMR)?
  5. What elements of a community-based/community-led programme work best for which populations? How and when should they be delivered and who by?

The PHR programme is particularly interested in any natural experiment evaluations of recently implemented, innovative interventions to reduce concerns, hesitancy and facilitate vaccine uptake.

Studies should generate evidence to inform the implementation of single or multi-component interventions. Studies may include evidence syntheses, studies evaluating interventions, including trials, quasi- and natural experimental evaluations, and feasibility and pilot studies for these. We welcome applications for linked studies (e.g. pilot + main evaluation, evidence syntheses + modelling). Secondary analyses of existing epidemiological data and/or impact modelling studies may also be funded. In all cases a strong justification for the chosen design and methods must be made.

Some examples of related studies within the existing PHR portfolio are:

For further information on submitting an application to the PHR Programme, please refer to the supporting information for applicants submitting stage 1 and stage 2 applications.