Interventions to reduce inequalities in vaccine uptake in children and adolescents aged < 19 years: A systematic review

Tim Crocker-Buque*, Michael Edelstein, Sandra Mounier-Jack

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    65 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background In high-income countries, substantial differences exist in vaccine uptake relating to socioeconomic status, gender, ethnic group, geographic location and religious belief. This paper updates a 2009 systematic review on effective interventions to decrease vaccine uptake inequalities in light of new technologies applied to vaccination and new vaccine programmes (eg, human papillomavirus in adolescents). Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, ASSIA, The Campbell Collaboration, CINAHL, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Eppi Centre, Eric and PsychINFO for intervention, cohort or ecological studies conducted at primary/community care level in children and young people from birth to 19 years in OECD countries, with vaccine uptake or coverage as outcomes, published between 2008 and 2015. Results The 41 included studies evaluated complex multicomponent interventions (n=16), reminder/recall systems (n=18), outreach programmes (n=3) or computer-based interventions (n=2). Complex, locally designed interventions demonstrated the best evidence for effectiveness in reducing inequalities in deprived, urban, ethnically diverse communities. There is some evidence that postal and telephone reminders are effective, however, evidence remains mixed for textmessage reminders, although these may be more effective in adolescents. Interventions that escalated in intensity appeared particularly effective. Computer-based interventions were not effective. Few studies targeted an inequality specifically, although several reported differential effects by the ethnic group. Conclusions Locally designed, multicomponent interventions should be used in urban, ethnically diverse, deprived populations. Some evidence is emerging for text-message reminders, particularly in adolescents. Further research should be conducted in the UK and Europe with a focus on reducing specific inequalities.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)87-97
    Number of pages11
    JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health
    Volume71
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 17 Aug 2016

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright:
    Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Interventions to reduce inequalities in vaccine uptake in children and adolescents aged < 19 years: A systematic review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this