NHS vaccination strategy – one year on

NHS vaccination and screening programmes play a critical role in helping people stay well, be that by stopping the spread of infections such as measles or polio, by bringing us one step closer in our efforts to eliminating cervical cancer through HPV vaccination and cervical screening, or by helping prevent as many people as possible becoming seriously unwell and hospitalised over winter through targeted flu, COVID-19 and RSV offers.  

I was delighted that we published the NHS Vaccination Strategy a year ago today, setting out how better use of technology, targeted outreach and improved access can together start to address declining and variable uptake and maximise the benefits of the most effective public health intervention after clean water.

“One year on .. now is a good opportunity to take stock of progress and restate what more we need to do”

One year on, together with the big shift from sickness to prevention outlined by the government and included in the forthcoming ten-year plan, now is a good opportunity to take stock of progress and restate what more we need to do, including what I have been hearing from our ICB, regional and provider leads, amongst others, who have been working together on implementation.

The vaccination strategy outlined three clear priority areas:

• Improving access including an expansion of online services: The ‘front door’ to vaccination services should be simple to understand, with online booking, including via the NHS App.
• Vaccination delivery in convenient local places, with targeted outreach to support uptake in underserved populations: making it easy for people to take up the vaccination offer from GP practices and pharmacies, alongside tailored outreach services for under-vaccinated communities, building trust and confidence.
• A more joined-up prevention and vaccination offer: holistic services, offering multiple vaccinations for the whole family, for example flu alongside MMR and HPV catch up, with wider health advice and interventions such as blood pressure, diabetes and heart checks, or mental health and dental information.

The NHS response

Putting the responsibility for planning and delivery in the hands of local systems, we will see more innovation and solutions are shaped around the needs of local communities. Our catchup campaign for MMR earlier this year demonstrated the value of this approach, improving uptake especially for those with Black African or Black African Caribbean ethnicity, and in the most deprived populations. 

Over the past year, we have also seen great examples of the NHS working with local councils, communities, charities and others to develop local solutions that respond to the challenges.

Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS, working with local GPs, has supported care home staff to administer flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to residents and staff, which has led to higher uptake for residents and a five-fold increase in flu uptake among care home staff, leading to significant reductions in staff absence from seasonal illness. 

Birmingham and Solihull ICS commissioned the local community health trust to vaccinate infants and pre-school children as a supplement to the core general practice offer, maximising convenience for the population and relieving pressure on local GPs.  In the East of England, local pharmacies are offering RSV vaccination through booked online appointments or walk-in clinics, expanding the offer to the high street.

North East and North Cumbria ICS, with GPs and local partners, has targeted investment to the most challenged areas, empowering trusted voices to engage with communities to build vaccine confidence and address complacency. 

“These approaches all show how – through partnership – we are improving access, building confidence, and making progress that considers CORE20Plus5 and other underserved populations”

To support and enable local action, we have further developed our digital capability that now allows people to see their seasonal vaccinations in the NHS App and offers joint appointments for flu and COVID-19 vaccination.  We have implemented a new recording system for maternity vaccinations at the point of care and have made real-time data available on the Federated Data Platform to help systems target improvement.  We have extended our ability to communicate with people in a way that works for them, inviting people in over 30 languages and accessible formats and use our convening powers to support improved uptake by working with national charities, faith leaders, advocacy organisations and others to share messages and build trust.

These approaches all show how – through partnership – we are improving access, building confidence, and making progress that considers CORE20Plus5 and other underserved populations. 

That said, there is more to do. 

Our future vision

As we move into the new year, NHS England will continue to expand digital capabilities, including improving the capture and flow of data, as well as enhancing the NHS App, making it a one-stop shop for vaccinations, allowing people to see which vaccinations they have had, how to get any they still need, and to manage appointments or find convenient local walk-in options to suit them. 

We will also progress work to support changes to regulations that enable more local flexibility, expand access by changing contractual and logistical approaches, and put investment on outreach and engagement on a sustainable footing. 

Our NHS immunisations are some of the most comprehensive in the world, protecting us through every stage of our lives.  Childhood vaccines alone prevent between 3.5 and 5 million deaths every year across the globe. 

We remain committed to improving uptake across all our programmes to best protect the communities we serve. 

Michelle Kane is director of vaccination and screening, delivery and transformation at NHS England. You can follow Michelle on LinkedIn.