Persistence and partnerships: School nurses, inequalities and the HPV vaccination programme

Abstract

This study examines the role of school nurses in the delivery of the HPV immunisation programme. A qualitative study, including 80 semi-structured interviews, was conducted with health professionals (primarily school nurses) from across the four UK nations. Interviews explored the role of the school nurse in the HPV programme and efforts to address health inequalities. Many school nurses were persistent and flexible when targeting vulnerable young women and addressing health inequalities. In addition, understanding why parents and girls rejected the vaccine and working in partnerships were central to addressing health inequalities in the HPV vaccination programme. School nurses are a valuable part of the workforce tackling health inequalities in young people. Persistence and partnerships improved school nurses’ ability to address health inequalities. Future vaccination programmes can benefit from better understanding how differences in the delivery of an immunisation programme affects uptake and health inequalities.