Influenza vaccinations in prison
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the feasibility of delivering a whole prison influenza vaccination programme across secure adult settings in the South West of England: A mixed-methods study
IRAS ID
332806
Contact name
Chantal Edge
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UKHSA
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 26 days
Research summary
Currently flu vaccination is only available to people in prison that are part of clinical at-risk groups as defined by the JVCI, or staff where their occupational health provider offers the vaccine. Staff (and those living in the community) can also access the flu vaccination privately through community pharmacies. Prisons are high risk settings for flu outbreaks, and whole prison population vaccination is the WHO’s preferred strategy for reduction of flu outbreaks in prisons. However there is limited evidence of effectiveness of flu vaccination and flu transmission within prisons in the UK to inform further research, surveillance, or policy.
This study aims to a) determine whether whole prison influenza vaccination is feasible and acceptable and b) determine the feasibility of collecting appropriate qualitative, quantitative and clinical data to allow further formal assessment of whole prison influenza vaccination effectiveness. This will be delivered through three work packages using mixed methods. Firstly a process evaluation will be used to look at barriers and facilitators to delivery of a whole prison vaccination model. Secondly, uptake and acceptance of the vaccination will be review through focus groups, interviews, and vaccination data of residents and staff. Thirdly, collection of influenza surveillance data will be piloted through review of current data capture systems, enhanced testing of acute-respiratory infection cases in prisons and contact pattern questionnaires. An agency with experience of conducting research in prisons will be used to undertake the focus groups and interviews.
This study will run over two years. Feasibility of data collection and qualitative work will be undertaken in year one (from October 2023). Delivery of an enhanced flu vaccination programme will start alongside the 2024/25 NHS programme (Autumn), with data collection, analysis and write up completed by June 2025.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0925
Date of REC Opinion
15 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion