In some parts of Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, fewer than 75% of children are protected against measles, mumps, and rubella. In some groups uptake is even lower—just over 40%. These gaps are a serious public health concern because they increase the risk of outbreaks and widen existing health inequalities.
The Bristol Community Approach (BCA) to vaccination was first developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to boost vaccine uptake among underserved communities. It has since been adapted to improve MMR vaccination rates in these same groups.
It includes activities like pop-up clinics, health fairs, community conversations, and a film co-produced with local people to answer common questions about vaccines. These events are designed and delivered with local communities to ensure they are accessible, trusted, and relevant.
However, while the approach has been promising, we don’t yet know exactly how well it works, why it works, or how it could be improved and scaled up.
Project aims:
To gain a deep understanding of how the BCA works for MMR vaccination—exploring why it works, how, for whom, when, and to what extent. This insight will help improve the approach and assess its potential for wider use across the NHS.
What we hope to achieve:
- Review and organise existing materials Including intervention documents, plans, protocols, delivery records, feedback, and evaluations to describe strategies and build an initial programme theory.
- Conduct interviews with members of the four target groups and with service providers involved in commissioning, designing, or delivering the interventions.
- Assess impact and costs Collect data to understand the effects of the intervention and inform future economic evaluation.
- Co-produce recommendations Use insights from the programme theory to develop practical, data-informed recommendations for improving BCA delivery across Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board (ICB), and explore its potential for use in other ICBs.
Lead researchers
Partners
- NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board
- Bristol City Council Local Authority
- UK Health Security Agency
Further information:
MMR film: Bing Videos
