Keep calm and carry on vaccinating: Is anti-vaccination sentiment contributing to declining vaccine coverage in England?

Background: In England, coverage for childhood vaccines have decreased since 2012/13 in the context of an increasingly visible anti-vaccination discourse. We determined whether anti-vaccination sentiment is the likely cause of this decline in coverage.

Methods: Descriptive study triangulating a range of data sources (vaccine coverage, cross-sectional survey of attitudes towards vaccination, UK-specific Twitter social media) and assessing them against the following Bradford Hill criteria: strength of association, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient and coherence.

Early impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and physical distancing measures on routine childhood vaccinations in England, January to April 2020.

Using electronic health records, we assessed the early impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on routine childhood vaccination in England by 26 April 2020. Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination counts fell from February 2020, and in the 3 weeks after introduction of physical distancing measures were 19.8% lower (95% confidence interval: -20.

The role of healthcare providers in HPV vaccination programs - A meeting report.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and Control Board convened a meeting in Bucharest, Romania (May 2018), to discuss the role of healthcare providers (HCPs) in prevention programs, with a focus on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. International and local experts discussed the role that HCPs can play to increase the uptake of HPV vaccine and screening. Experts recommended: 1) increasing HCP norms of getting vaccinated; 2) training providers to make effective recommendations; 3) making culturally appropriate materials available, in local languages; and 4) centralizing and coordinating education and information material, to direct both HCPs and the general public to the best material available.

HPV vaccination of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in sexual health and HIV clinics in England: vaccination uptake and attendances during the pilot phase.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) aged up to 45 years attending sexual health clinics (SHC) and HIV clinics began in England as a pilot in June 2016, with national roll-out from April 2018. The recommended course is three doses of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine over one to 2 years. We present the methodology and results of monitoring vaccination uptake (initiation and completion), and attendance patterns, during the pilot phase.

Implementation and evaluation of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination pilot for men who have sex with men (MSM), England, April 2016 to March 2017.

Background: Opportunistic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for men who have sex with men (MSM) was piloted in sexual health clinics (SHC) in England between 2016 and 2018.

Aim: to evaluate the pilot's first year (April 2016-March 2017) in terms of feasibility, acceptability, uptake, impact and equity and interpret the outcome in the context of wide HPV vaccination policy.

Methods: Attendance and uptake data from routine SHC surveillance datasets and a cross-sectional survey administered to individuals receiving the vaccine were analysed.

Overcoming barriers in HPV vaccination and screening programs.

The Human Papillomavirus Prevention and Control Board brought together experts to discuss optimizing HPV vaccination and screening programs. Board members reviewed the safety profile of licensed HPV vaccines based on clinical and post-marketing data, reaching a consensus that current safety data is reassuring. Successful vaccination programs used well-coordinated communication campaigns, integrating (social) media to spread awareness.

Vaccination in pregnancy: Attitudes of nurses, midwives and health visitors in England.

Objective: To examine amongst healthcare professionals in England; knowledge of vaccinations in pregnancy, their perceived roles in these programmes and whether they recommend scheduled vaccines to pregnant women.

Design: Cross sectional survey (online questionnaire) Setting: Healthcare workers in contact with pregnant women in England.

Participants: The survey analysis included 3441 healthcare workers who had been surveyed during May to August 2015.

UK parents' attitudes towards meningococcal group B (MenB) vaccination: a qualitative analysis.

Objectives: (1) To explore existing knowledge of, and attitudes, to group B meningococcal disease and serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine among parents of young children. (2) To seek views on their information needs.

Design: Cross-sectional qualitative study using individual and group interviews conducted in February and March 2015, prior to the introduction of MenB vaccine (Bexsero) into the UK childhood immunisation schedule.

Changing attitudes to childhood immunisation in English parents.

Objectives: We undertook a national survey of parental attitudes to childhood vaccinations and compared results with those in earlier comparable surveys covering a 10year period.

Methods: We randomly selected 275 nationally representative sampling locations in England. Interviewers identified eligible primary care givers (referred to as parents) of children aged from 2months to <5years and conducted home-based interviews between January and April 2015.

Tracking parental attitudes on vaccination across European countries: The Vaccine Safety, Attitudes, Training and Communication Project (VACSATC).

The paper presents the first results from the European project VACSATC which aimed to track parental attitudes on vaccinations across several European countries. We compared five cross-sectional surveys of parents with children less than 3 years of age in England, Norway, Poland, Spain and Sweden carried out during 2008-2009. Data were collected from 6611 respondents.

Tracking mothers' attitudes to MMR immunisation 1996-2006.

This paper presents the findings of surveys that have tracked mothers' attitudes towards MMR over the period 1996-2006. The main aim was to demonstrate how attitudes in relation to MMR have evolved over the last 10 years incorporating the periods of time before, during and after the height of the MMR controversy within the UK. MMR vaccine remains the number one 'top of mind' vaccination issue for parents.

Parental response to the introduction of a vaccine against human papilloma virus.

The introduction of a vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that is the causal factor of at least 95% of invasive cervical cancer, could significantly reduce the number of cases of cervical cancer occurring in the UK each year. To ensure that individuals are protected before onset of sexual activity, it is likely that the vaccine will be offered to children around 10 years of age. It is important that parents' attitudes to HPV vaccination are taken into account, particularly as the subject relates to sexual health issues.

Communicating vaccine benefit and risk - lessons from the medical field.

The childhood immunisation programme in England aims to achieve and maintain high vaccine coverage so that no child needlessly suffers from a vaccine preventable disease. As part of the programme, parents must have appropriate support from health professionals and have information available to them to make informed decisions about their choices. Even though immunisation is voluntary in England, coverage is generally high.

Tracking mothers attitudes to childhood immunisation 1991-2001.

This report presents the findings from a series of 20 surveys carried out between 1991 and 2001. The main objectives of the research were to: This unique body of more than 15,000 interviews was conducted as part of a routine programme of research supporting the national immunisation programme in England. These surveys show that the public wants clarity, consistency, factual information and openness from those delivering immunisation services.