Feasibility study of II'M SAFE intervention
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Increasing Immunisation Motivation by Supporting Access to Flu Education (II'M SAFE): A regionally based feasibility study of a multifaceted intervention to increase influenza knowledge and vaccination in ethnically diverse and deprived groups.
IRAS ID
355718
Contact name
Catharine Montgomery
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool John Moores University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
The World Health Organisation and United Nations agencies have called for research on vaccine hesitancy among ethnically diverse populations. Cultural and religious factors (e.g., uncertainty around necessity, perceptions of good health, halal status of vaccines) inhibit engagement with influenza vaccination. Currently, there are no targeted interventions tailored to the UK’s ethnically diverse populations.
We completed a study to understand influenza vaccine hesitance in these communities, partnering with the public, community organisations, The Pandemic Institute, Liverpool City Council, primary care professionals, ARC North West Coast, and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB. We interviewed 20 healthcare professionals, 14 community workers, 10 policy makers/commissioners, and 55 public members about perceived barriers and facilitators to vaccine access and uptake. We used this to develop an intervention.
We plan to deliver a package of activities and communications in primary care and the community in Liverpool. This includes face-to-face brief interventions by community messengers and primary care staff, co-produced community resources in accessible languages, and community-led media campaigns. To our knowledge, there have been no evaluations of multi-component flu vaccine hesitance interventions for clinically at-risk people, utilising primary care and community assets in the UK.
We will conduct a 2-year feasibility study in Central Liverpool Primary Care Network (CLPCN), currently comprising 10 GP practices, to test the intervention and increase flu-related health literacy. Other GP practices may also participate if feasible. Participating GP practices will receive free training, with a version also delivered to community champions. There are three work packages: delivering the intervention, evaluating its effectiveness, and assessing the study process. If feasible and effective, we will test it across England. Public advisors and community champions are involved throughout, ensuring the perspectives of deprived and ethnic minority communities are embedded. Findings will be shared in co-developed journal articles, policy briefings, international conferences, and tailored reports.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0115
Date of REC Opinion
16 May 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion