445 A community-based intervention to promote influenza vaccine uptake among East London minority ethnicity (ME) populations and persons with low income: randomised pilot and feasibility trial

Abstract

OP 33: Diseases and Interventions 1, B304 (FCSH), September 5, 2025, 09:00 - 10:00 Aims Influenza vaccination among underserved groups remains lower than in general populations. We co-designed a multilingual patient engagement tool (PET) which included an interactive text-messaging and appointment booking tool. We aimed to determine the feasibility and practicality of the PET to inform the design for a subsequent trial of influenza vaccine uptake

Methods We co-designed the PET with patients and healthcare workers and 1:1 randomised six general practices in East London. Participants were blinded to allocation; practice staff were not. Non-vaccinated non-dissenting participants from minority ethnicity (ME) and low-income populations were eligible for the study. The primary outcome was vaccination uptake up to 180 days after randomisation; ascertained through electronic health records.

Results Excluding patients who dissented (10.1%), lacked valid contact details (12.9%) or other reasons (14.4%), we randomised 5903 patients, 2933 to the intervention group and 2970 to the control group. Three GP practices were randomised into early and late start respectively. The median age was 49y (IQR 37-63y), in a diverse population (Asian 53%, Black 17%, White 7.1%, Mixed 0.7%, Other 12%; Index of multiple deprivation (IMD) quintiles 1 and 2, 95%). Intervention delivery was 27.6%, and 20 patients (2.6%) booked a vaccination. 143/2494 (5.7%, CI 4.9-6.7%) patients in the intervention and 155/2537 (6.1%, CI 5.1-7.1%) patients in the control group were vaccinated (odds ratio 0.93; CI 0.73-1.19). Vaccination uptake amongst patients who booked a vaccination was 70%.

Conclusions This pilot study supports the feasibility of components for a larger trial to assess the effectiveness of PETs to improve vaccination rates in ME groups and those living in high deprivation. Key learning includes improvements in the intervention implementation and timing, and improved outcome ascertainment. Greater coordination and support between sites and trial teams could lead to effective evaluation of PETs.