tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Vaccine. 2019 Dec 17. pii: S0264-410X(19)31662-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.12.020. [Epub ahead of print] [h=1]Acceptance and feasibility of school-based seasonal influenza vaccination in Singapore: A qualitative study.[/h]
Offeddu V[SUP]1[/SUP], Low MSF[SUP]2[/SUP], Surendran S[SUP]3[/SUP], Kembhavi G[SUP]4[/SUP], Tam CC[SUP]5[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h] 1 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 117549 Singapore. Electronic address: vittoria.offeddu@nus.edu.sg. 2 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, MA 02138 Cambridge, USA. 3 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 117549 Singapore. Electronic address: e0178075@u.nus.edu. 4 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 117549 Singapore. 5 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 117549 Singapore; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: clarence.tam@nus.edu.sg.
[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]INTRODUCTION:[/h] Influenza is a major cause of disease in children. School-based seasonal influenza vaccination can be a cost-effective tool to improve vaccine uptake among children, and can bring substantial health and economic benefits to the broader community. The acceptance and feasibility of school-based influenza vaccination are likely to be highly context-specific, but limited data exist from tropical settings with year-round influenza transmission. We conducted a qualitative study to assess acceptability and feasibility of a school-based seasonal influenza vaccination programme in Singapore.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, representatives of relevant ministries, preschool principals and parents to understand their perspectives on a proposed school-based seasonal influenza vaccination programme. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] We conducted 40 interviews. Although preschool-aged children are currently the recommended age group for vaccination, stakeholders suggested introducing the programme in primary and/or secondary schools, where existing vaccination infrastructure would facilitate delivery. However, more comprehensive evidence on the local influenza burden and transmission patterns among children is required to develop an evidence-based, locally relevant rationale for a school-based vaccination programme and effectively engage policy-makers, school staff, and parents. Extensive, age-appropriate public education and awareness campaigns would increase the acceptability of the programme among stakeholders. Stakeholders indicated that an opt-out programme with free or subsidised vaccination would be the most likely to achieve high vaccine coverage and make access to vaccination more equitable.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] Overall, participants were supportive of a free or subsidised school-based influenza vaccination programme in primary and/or secondary schools, although children in this age group are not currently a recommended group for vaccination. However, a better informed, evidence-based rationale to estimate the programme's impact in Singapore is currently lacking. Extensive, age-appropriate public education and awareness campaigns will help ensure full support across key stakeholder groups.
Copyright ? 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Influenza; Influenza vaccine; School-based vaccination
PMID: 31862193 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.12.020
Offeddu V[SUP]1[/SUP], Low MSF[SUP]2[/SUP], Surendran S[SUP]3[/SUP], Kembhavi G[SUP]4[/SUP], Tam CC[SUP]5[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h] 1 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 117549 Singapore. Electronic address: vittoria.offeddu@nus.edu.sg. 2 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, MA 02138 Cambridge, USA. 3 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 117549 Singapore. Electronic address: e0178075@u.nus.edu. 4 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 117549 Singapore. 5 Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 117549 Singapore; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: clarence.tam@nus.edu.sg.
[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]INTRODUCTION:[/h] Influenza is a major cause of disease in children. School-based seasonal influenza vaccination can be a cost-effective tool to improve vaccine uptake among children, and can bring substantial health and economic benefits to the broader community. The acceptance and feasibility of school-based influenza vaccination are likely to be highly context-specific, but limited data exist from tropical settings with year-round influenza transmission. We conducted a qualitative study to assess acceptability and feasibility of a school-based seasonal influenza vaccination programme in Singapore.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, representatives of relevant ministries, preschool principals and parents to understand their perspectives on a proposed school-based seasonal influenza vaccination programme. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] We conducted 40 interviews. Although preschool-aged children are currently the recommended age group for vaccination, stakeholders suggested introducing the programme in primary and/or secondary schools, where existing vaccination infrastructure would facilitate delivery. However, more comprehensive evidence on the local influenza burden and transmission patterns among children is required to develop an evidence-based, locally relevant rationale for a school-based vaccination programme and effectively engage policy-makers, school staff, and parents. Extensive, age-appropriate public education and awareness campaigns would increase the acceptability of the programme among stakeholders. Stakeholders indicated that an opt-out programme with free or subsidised vaccination would be the most likely to achieve high vaccine coverage and make access to vaccination more equitable.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] Overall, participants were supportive of a free or subsidised school-based influenza vaccination programme in primary and/or secondary schools, although children in this age group are not currently a recommended group for vaccination. However, a better informed, evidence-based rationale to estimate the programme's impact in Singapore is currently lacking. Extensive, age-appropriate public education and awareness campaigns will help ensure full support across key stakeholder groups.
Copyright ? 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Influenza; Influenza vaccine; School-based vaccination
PMID: 31862193 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.12.020