Abstract
ABSTRACT Large-scale immunisation programmes against seasonal influenza are characterised by logistical challenges related to the need for vaccinating large cohorts of people in a short amount of time. Careful operational planning of resources is essential for a successful implementation of such programmes. We focused on the process of child vaccination in schools and analysed the staffing and workflow aspects of a school-aged children vaccination programme in England. Our objectives were to document vaccination processes and analyse times and costs associated with different models deployed across England. We collected data through direct non-participatory observations. Statistical data analysis enabled us to identify potential factors influencing vaccine delivery time and informed the development of a tool to simulate vaccination sessions. Using this tool, we carried out scenario analyses and explored trade-offs between session times and costs in different settings. Our work ultimately supported the local implementation of school-based vaccination.
Highlights
Until 2012, in the United Kingdom, annual vaccination against seasonal influenza had been routinely offered only to “at-risk” groups including older people (>65 years of age), pregnant women, people with asthma
Children went through the following sequence of activities: Step 1 Administrative tasks (AD) – Identity of the child is checked; a staff member makes sure a consent form signed by parents or carers has been completed for that child
Step 3 Immunisation (IM) – Vaccine is administered to the child via nasal spray; a certificate is given to the child reporting that they have received the vaccine
Summary
Until 2012, in the United Kingdom, annual vaccination against seasonal influenza had been routinely offered only to “at-risk” groups including older people (>65 years of age), pregnant women, people with asthma. In July 2012, the UK Department of Health’s Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that healthy school-aged children be vaccinated as well, using a nasal spray vaccine, to reduce the impact of influenza in children and avert many cases of severe influenza or influenza-related deaths occurring among those with clinical risk factors and older adults (Joint Commission on Vaccination and Immunisation, 2012) Based on these recommendations, in 2013 the UK Department of Health and Public Health England commissioned seven areas in England to conduct a pilot implementation of vaccination among schoolaged children to develop and test operational strategies to deliver the vaccine. In 2015/16, this vaccination programme underwent a national extension whereby children aged 5 and 6 (i.e., school years 1 and 2) were offered school-based vaccination all over England, with pilot areas continuing to offer school-based vaccination to children aged 4 to 11
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
