AN analysis of international trial evidence has identified some of the most effective ways to increase vaccination uptake, including extending vaccination opportunities, involving community members alongside health professionals to communicate about vaccines, and providing financial incentives.
The UK-based team looked at 237 studies involving over four million participants in the first-ever review to assess the effectiveness of individual intervention components across different populations and contexts.
To increase the uptake of children's vaccinations, offering payments to cover costs and decision aids were found to be beneficial, while extended vaccination opportunities and information about social benefits might also prove effective.
Adolescents and young adults responded favourably to phone calls, texts and emails, and delivery by community members alongside healthcare professionals, while decision aids had a negative effect.
For adults, human interaction, extended vaccination opportunities, help with appointment scheduling, payments to cover costs, and motivational interviewing to encourage uptake were beneficial.
To help people in underserved communities, extended vaccination opportunities were also recommended, as well as financial incentives and reminders.
The study team said the findings had important implications for designing, optimising, and implementing targeted interventions, and highlighted which components were effective across different populations and contexts.
"The findings should be integrated with local-level insights to guide the implementation of combinations of intervention components that are effective for local populations," they concluded.
Read the study in BMJ HERE. KB
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