Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG103/5

Question

Community-based models of flu vaccination:- What models of community-based flu vaccination provision (for example, community pharmacies, community nursing and midwifery teams and outreach services) are effective and cost-effective for increasing uptake in eligible groups?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- There is high variability across England in rates of flu vaccination uptake in eligible groups. Little is known about the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of extending community-based provision to include, for example, community pharmacies, community nursing and midwifery teams and outreach services into a variety of settings. Expert testimony suggested that community outreach interventions are effective for underserved groups such as people who are homeless, but empirical evidence for the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of such interventions is lacking. Limited evidence to date suggests that community pharmacy provision of NHS flu vaccinations has displaced rather than increased overall vaccination activity, because community pharmacies may be more convenient for some people in eligible groups. As new services become better publicised and embedded, there is a need to know if they are good value for money and whether (and why) they increase uptake. More research is needed on alternative models of community-based provision to inform future interventions and recommendations, particularly if it reaches groups
who are currently underserved, and who may not use traditional routes such as GP services.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Flu vaccination: increasing uptake

Number

NG103

Date issued

August 2018

Other details