Task

Economic Assessment of Influenza Vaccination Campaigns in Different Age Groups in the UK

Introduction 

In order to mitigate the financial, health, and social impact of seasonal influenza in the United Kingdom, vaccinations are vital (Rodrigues and Plotkin, 2020). The United Kingdom incurs enormous societal costs due to seasonal influenza.

There are both direct and indirect economic consequences associated with this, such as increased demand on National Health Service (NHS) resources, healthcare expenditures, and occupational absenteeism and presenteeism (Kinman, 2019).

One should contemplate the likelihood that 2.4 million adults of working age contract influenza annually, leading to a cumulative loss of 4.8 million workdays (Romanelli et al., 2023). Organisations and the overall economy are significantly impacted by this absenteeism, which reduces productivity and damages employee salaries.

Furthermore, the efficacy of flu shots cannot be overstated. During a pandemic, vaccines are crucial in mitigating preventive absenteeism and reducing infection rates due to individuals' apprehension of contracting the virus. There is speculation regarding the varying degrees of effectiveness of vaccination regimens.

In a double-dose scenario, matching vaccinations may achieve an efficacy of 80%, whereas pre-pandemic vaccines may only achieve 20% (Oakley et al., 2021). The significance of correct and timely vaccination methods in mitigating the consequences of the pandemic is demonstrated by the wide range of effectiveness observed.

A significant discrepancy exists in the levels of Influenza vaccination coverage rates (VCRs) among different regions and demographic groups in Great Britain. Due to their heightened susceptibility to severe complications associated with influenza, individuals aged 65 and above and young children are particularly vulnerable (Oakley et al., 2021).

In England, the VCR of immunosuppressed patients decreased significantly from 53.2% in 2015–2016 to 44.4% in 2019–2020. Conversely, since 2015, VCRs in Wales have remained essentially unchanged (Oakley et al., 2021). Furthermore, vaccination rates are influenced by socioeconomic factors.

This is evidenced by the fact that VCR availability varies considerably between regions in the United Kingdom. For the 2019–2020 campaign, for instance, London recorded 41.8% and Greater Manchester 48.6% (Oakley et al., 2021). The season in question witnessed the achievement of the national vaccine adoption target of ≥55% by a mere one out of 191 Clinical Commissioning Groups in England.

Pregnant women in the United Kingdom continue to have low influenza VCRs, despite the fact that this group is especially susceptible due to the increased risk to both mother and infant. Vaccination during pregnancy has been shown to have beneficial effects; however, for the 2018-2019 season, uptake rates remained below 60% in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Also Read - Assignment Help Sydney

Discussion 

The funding and execution of influenza vaccine programmes are the responsibility of the National Health Service (NHS), an integral component of the healthcare system in the United Kingdom (Mounier-Jack et al., 2020). The diligent planning and adherence to guidelines by the public and medical professionals demonstrate the government's commitment.

As per the influenza vaccination strategy for 2023–2024, this entails ascertaining the eligibility of individuals to receive the vaccine and furnishing comprehensive details regarding the presently available vaccines (GOV.UK, 2021).

The national health budget, allocated by the Department of Health and Social Care and disbursed by NHS England and other relevant entities, provides the majority of the funding for these initiatives. A centralised funding strategy ensures both the supply and quality of the national influenza vaccine.

The influenza vaccination strategy for 2023–2024 specifically targets high-risk populations, including the elderly, small children, pregnant women, individuals with certain medical conditions, and healthcare workers, with the aim of mitigating the overall impact of influenza (GOV.UK, 2020).

The initiative not only aids healthcare providers in administering vaccines but also addresses vaccine reluctance. The National Health Service (NHS) oversees vaccination sites to ensure they have sufficient personnel and supplies, distributes and purchases vaccines, and conducts public awareness campaigns to encourage influenza vaccination, among other responsibilities. 

Influenza vaccination campaigns in the United Kingdom are crucial for reducing healthcare expenditures. Decreased hospitalisations, doctor visits, and the necessity for expensive, intensive medical interventions are immediate outcomes of the initiatives aimed at reducing influenza cases (GOV.UK, 2020).

This proactive measure holds significant significance in the United Kingdom due to the heightened susceptibility to severe influenza complications among the elderly. As the number of vaccinated individuals has increased annually, the burden on the health system as a whole has been diminished further due to the expansion of vaccine eligibility to include more populations.

Through a reduction in the incidence of influenza cases, the indirect costs of production lost due to illness can be diminished. Adults of working age who are vaccinated are less likely to require medical leave, thereby maintaining high levels of economic productivity.

The National Health Service (NHS) will be in a better position to oversee routine treatment and other health emergencies, particularly during peak flu seasons when hospitals and clinics commonly encounter severe capacity constraints, if influenza cases are reduced (GOV.UK, 2020).

These endeavours not only safeguard susceptible demographics such as the young, elderly, and individuals with preexisting conditions, but also contribute to the development of herd immunity, thereby mitigating the likelihood of a pandemic. 
Broad implementation of influenza vaccination programmes significantly enhances the efficacy of the national health resources of the United Kingdom.

They alleviate pressure on healthcare systems by reducing the incidence of influenza, particularly during flu seasons. The widespread participation and effectiveness of these initiatives are evidenced by the consistently high rates of engagement among key demographic groups, including healthcare professionals, expectant women, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting conditions (GOV.UK, 2020).

The extensive and comprehensive nature of these preventive measures is exemplified by the vaccination campaign that spanned more than 15 million individuals in England during the 2019–2020 season.

This leads to fewer medical trips and expenditure on hospital visits, hence money can be channeled to address more pressing health issues. Vaccination programs are also important in minimizing this probability as it stops the transmission of the virus, thus avoiding a catastrophe in healthcare systems.

Reduction of influenza cases corresponds to the same number of ill days and absenteeism that ultimately increase productivity in various sectors. This is especially important for individuals of working age, given that the virus could render so many people unable to go to work. For the overall health of the population, NHS resources should be prioritised to preventive measures such as mass immunization throughout.

Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses are used in the US to evaluate the economic outcomes of administering the flu vaccine (Postma et al., 2023). In these assessments, the financial burden of vaccination programs is compared with the cost savings on healthcare expenditures and absenteeism losses due to influenza. Such programmes concentrate on high-risk groups like the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing health conditions in an effort to achieve maximum benefit and to ensure efficient resource allocation.

Moreover, these strategies have been very flexible and responsive to variations in vaccination uptake across various populations. The campaigns should also be flexible enough for them to give a practical approach aligned with the aims of public health.

It is imperative to alleviate the strain on healthcare authorities, particularly for elderlies and children who have a higher tendency towards influenza-associated complications and admission in hospitals. Also, with decreasing influenza incident cases, there is a significant reduction in employee absences that in turn help to minimize the losses incurred in many industries. This is essential as it provides economic stability. 

Also Read - Nursing Assignment Help

Conclusion and Recommendations

In the UK influenza vaccination campaigns have shown remarkable gains in social, economic, and health spheres. These initiatives have contributed to a higher vaccination uptake among different age groups, especially among the youth, pregnant women, healthcare employees, and the elderly.

The high vaccination rates in these groups show the success of the campaign since more people become eligible for vaccinations and the United Kingdom population ages. In order to ensure health for public, influenza vaccine is essential because of the co-circulation of COVID-19 and influenza.

Recommendations

Since the positive results, it is advisable to uphold and even expand on the vaccination initiatives. Emphasis must be placed on certain minority groups and young people as part of increased vaccination. It is possible to reduce vaccine skepticism by using targeted educational and publicity initiatives (Thompson et al., 2023).

Therefore, it is essential to conduct periodic evaluations and adjustments of the campaigns to keep pace with changing public health dynamics and emerging health dangers.

The actions to be performed by stakeholders and policymakers, practitioners and researchers are mentioned ahead. Legislators should continue to do their part in providing moral and financial support for influenza vaccination programs and think about extending the eligibility and access to include poor communities (GOV.UK, 2020).

Health care providers must be proactive in engaging with at-risk patients, providing them with accessible information on the benefits of influenza vaccines, and addressing any doubts or uncertainties that may arise.

The scientists must examine how to increase the vaccination levels among a variety groups and the future implications of influenza in a co-infection situation with Covid-19 (GOV.UK, 2023). Public health authorities should partner with community leaders to improve vaccination enrollment and public confidence, and they should enhance public awareness campaigns.

Top Healthcare Samples

References

GOV.UK (2020) Health matters: Delivering the flu immunisation programme during the COVID-19 pandemic. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-flu-immunisation-programme-and-covid-19/health-matters-delivering-the-flu-immunisation-programme-during-the-covid-19-pandemic (Accessed: 16 December 2023).

GOV.UK (2021) Flu vaccination programme 2023 to 2024: Healthcare Practitioners. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccination-programme-information-for-healthcare-practitioners (Accessed: 16 December 2023).
GOV.UK (2023) The flu vaccination: Who should have it and why (Winter 2023 to 2024). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccination-who-should-have-it-this-winter-and-why/the-flu-vaccination-who-should-have-it-and-why-winter-2023-to-2024 (Accessed: 16 December 2023).
Kinman, G., 2019. Sickness presenteeism at work: prevalence, costs and management.
Mounier-Jack, S., Bell, S., Chantler, T., Edwards, A., Yarwood, J., Gilbert, D. and Paterson, P., 2020. Organisational factors affecting performance in delivering influenza vaccination to staff in NHS Acute Hospital Trusts in England: A qualitative study. Vaccine, 38(15), pp.3079-3085.
Oakley, S. et al. (2021) Influenza vaccine uptake among at-risk adults (aged 16–64 years) in the UK: A retrospective database analysis - BMC public health, BioMed Central. Available at: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11736-2 (Accessed: 16 December 2023).
Postma, M., Fisman, D., Giglio, N., Márquez-Peláez, S., Nguyen, V.H., Pugliese, A., Ruiz-Aragón, J., Urueña, A. and Mould-Quevedo, J., 2023. Real-World Evidence in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Enhanced Influenza Vaccines in Adults≥ 65 Years of Age: Literature Review and Expert Opinion. Vaccines, 11(6), p.1089.
Rodrigues, C.M. and Plotkin, S.A., 2020. Impact of vaccines; health, economic and social perspectives. Frontiers in microbiology, 11, p.1526.
Romanelli, R. et al. (2023) The societal and indirect economic burden of seasonal influenza in the United Kingdom. Available at: https://www.rand.org/randeurope/research/projects/societal-and-indirect-economic-burden-of-influenza.html (Accessed: 16 December 2023). 
Schwartz, J.L. and Caplan, A.L. eds., 2021. Vaccination ethics and policy: an introduction with readings. MIT Press.
Thompson, S., Meyer, J.C., Burnett, R.J. and Campbell, S.M., 2023. Mitigating Vaccine Hesitancy and Building Trust to Prevent Future Measles Outbreaks in England. Vaccines, 11(2), p.288.