Evaluation of a mobile COVID-19 vaccination van outreach service in an outer South London borough.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore differences in users of a COVID-19 mobile vaccine van service and users of a COVID-19 static vaccination hub, and the impact of changes in national COVID-19 vaccine policy on vaccine uptake. The age distribution of male and female service users in each service was compared. The average number of vaccines administered per hour per week was analysed. Females aged 80-89 represented 51.9% (95% CI 49.5-54.3%) of female vaccine van users compared with 2.8% (95% CI 2.5-3.1%) of female static hub users. The static hub had significantly greater proportions of female service users in all other age brackets.For males, the greatest difference was in those aged 70-79 who represented 29.8% (95% CI 27-32.6%) of vaccine van users and 16.6% (95% CI 16-17.2%) static hub users.Fewer vaccines were administered 2-3weeks before the COVID-19 autumn booster policy change compared with 2-3weeks after; 1.92 versus 6.25 vaccines per hour, respectively (Mann-Whitney U=7, n1=11, n2=8, P<0.01 two-tailed). These findings suggest that a mobile vaccine van service is an effective model for increasing COVID-19 vaccination uptake in elderly residents, particularly after a national policy change.