Driving vaccination uptake through collaborative working

The challenge

Vaccination uptake in specific areas of England was falling significantly below the national target, particularly among priority age groups. One region reported uptake as low as 17%, compared to a national average of 31%, creating a pressing need for targeted intervention. Key barriers included limited administrative resources for managing patient identification and recall, low patient awareness of vaccination benefits, inefficient use of clinic time, and a lack of prioritisation for immunisation efforts. Without addressing these challenges, at-risk populations continued to face preventable health risks.

The solution

To tackle these challenges, the client partnered with CHASE to implement an NHS-Industry Collaborative Working Project. Aligned with ABPI guidelines and focused on non-promotional, patient-centric initiatives, the programme was tailored to help GP practices optimise vaccination programmes and improve patient outcomes. The project was delivered in collaboration with the NHS, leveraging innovative strategies and resource use to address identified barriers.

Our multi-phase approach included the following steps:

Addressing administrative gaps:

• Developed and refined call/recall systems using automated tools, which streamlined the process of managing patient appointments.
• Enhanced practices’ ability to track progress through centralised data sharing and regular performance reviews.

Optimising resources:

• Encouraged the use of underutilised clinic hours, such as enhanced access clinics, to increase opportunities for vaccination.
• Promoted opportunistic vaccination during routine check-ups and flu clinics to maximise patient reach.

Engaging underserved communities:

• Initiated targeted community outreach through social prescribers and healthcare professionals to raise awareness and build trust among underserved populations.

Investing in long-term improvements:

• Delivered training to practice staff, empowering them with the skills to sustain the improvements introduced during the project.

The outcome

The project delivered measurable, impactful results, achieving significant improvements in vaccination rates, administrative efficiency, and patient engagement.

Key outcomes from the pilot include:

Improved vaccination uptake:

• Achieved a 135% increase in vaccination rates among the focus age group, surpassing the national average and protecting an additional 1,106 patients during the project period.

Enhanced administrative efficiency:

• IT booking systems reduced the time to fill a clinic from 3.5 hours to 15 minutes.

Expanded reach and scale:

• Following the pilot's success, the programme expanded to support 190 GP practices in its first full year, exceeding the initial target of 180 practices. The project has now been extended to engage over 1,000 practices, ensuring even broader impact.

Sustainable improvements:

• Embedded repeatable processes that allow practices to continue improving recall and vaccination performance beyond the project lifecycle.

This collaborative working initiative highlighted the power of targeted planning, tech-savvy use of administrative systems, and community engagement in overcoming systemic healthcare challenges. By focusing on long-term sustainability, the project equipped practices to continue building on its successes.