Vaccination is an effective way to prevent infectious diseases. However, individuals with certain social characteristics (for example, those living in more deprived areas) may be less likely to receive vaccination. At present, information about social factors that affect whether individuals in England receive vaccination is lacking. This makes it difficult to plan interventions to address these disadvantages. This study will examine the social factors that may be associated with lower uptake of flu vaccine and whooping cough vaccine by pregnant women. These factors will include the pregnant woman's age, her marital status, her ethnicity, whether she was born outside the UK, how many pregnancies she has had previously and how many children she has. Identifying social factors that are associated with lower vaccination rates will help to design programmes to improve vaccine uptake for specific groups of individuals. We will also describe the proportion of pregnant women who receive each of these vaccines, over time and by stage (each three months) of pregnancy.
Addressing inequalities in vaccine uptake to prevent infections is a key priority for public health. In England, current surveillance methods provide little information about social factors associated with vaccine uptake. This project will use linked electronic health records and a cohort study design to investigate the association between social factors and uptake of both flu and pertussis vaccine in pregnancy. Inactivated influenza vaccine was introduced for pregnant women in England in 2010, and maternal pertussis vaccination was introduced in October 2012. Using a cohort study design and multivariable Poisson regression, we will identify the social determinants of uptake of each vaccine. The results of this project will enhance existing surveillance methods and should help to address vaccine-related health inequities. We will also report on uptake of both vaccines by year and by trimester of pregnancy.
Uptake of maternal influenza vaccine; Uptake of maternal pertussis vaccine.
Helen McDonald - Chief Investigator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Helen McDonald - Corresponding Applicant - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Albert J. van Hoek - Collaborator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Anu Jain - Collaborator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Caroline Minassian - Collaborator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Christopher Rentsch - Collaborator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Gayatri Amirthalingam - Collaborator - Public Health England
Jemma Walker - Collaborator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Jeongeun Bak - Collaborator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Liam Smeeth - Collaborator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Nick Andrews - Collaborator - Public Health England
Sara Thomas - Chief Investigator - Not from an Organisation
CPRD Mother-Baby Link;HES Admitted Patient Care;Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Practice Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Practice Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Pregnancy Register