Increasing the uptake of Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine through a new school-based vaccination programme in Ireland.

BACKGROUND

Influenza vaccination is an important and effective public health intervention. Since 2020, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) has been available for children in Ireland, provided in the community in primary care. However, vaccine uptake has been suboptimal. Offering influenza vaccination in schools has improved uptake in other countries. In the 2023/24 influenza season, LAIV was offered in schools in Ireland, to targeted school year groups.

AIM

To evaluate the LAIV schools programme in the 2023/24 influenza season in Ireland, by estimating vaccine uptake and identifying factors associated with vaccine uptake.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study. Mobile school vaccination teams collected demographic and vaccine uptake data. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses examined if school type, school size and programme resources were associated with differences in vaccine uptake.

RESULTS

Offering LAIV to children in target school year groups in 1537 schools in Ireland resulted in a mean vaccine uptake of 49.3 %, compared to the general community uptake of 16.2 % in children aged 2-17 years. Vaccine uptake was lower in schools with higher proportions of children at risk of educational disadvantage (adjusted difference in means 8.0 %, 95 % CI 5.45 %-10.5 %). Larger schools had lower vaccine uptake, with each 10-child increase in enrolment associated with a 1.2 % adjusted decrease in mean uptake (95 % CI 0.7 % to 1.8 %).

CONCLUSION

Offering LAIV in a school setting in Ireland resulted in a higher vaccine uptake than the general community uptake in children. This study supports the use of a schools-based approach for influenza vaccination. Additional supports may be required to improve uptake in children at risk of educational disadvantage and those with complex needs.