Seasonal influenza immunization program outside general practice: An evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Heroin-dependent individuals on opioid substitution treatment (OST) are a vulnerable population.
• This group often has co-occurring chronic conditions (e.g., liver, respiratory disease), increasing their risk from influenza.
• Accessing healthcare services can be challenging for individuals with substance use disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a care pathway for seasonal influenza vaccination in heroin-dependent service users.
• To assess the uptake and feasibility of influenza vaccination within a drug and alcohol service setting.
• To evaluate the potential for integrated health advice alongside vaccination.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative approach involving Public Health and NHS England teams.
• Offering seasonal influenza vaccination to service users receiving OST during the 2014/15 season.
• Tracking vaccination uptake and recording service user feedback.

Main Results:

• Out of 515 service users on OST, 340 were offered vaccination, with 205 accepting.
• An additional 29 service users received the vaccination outside the service.
• Over 50% of OST service users had diagnosed chronic conditions, underscoring the intervention's importance.
• Service user feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

Conclusions:

• Seasonal influenza vaccination is a feasible and valuable health intervention for heroin-dependent individuals on OST.
• Integrating vaccination into drug and alcohol services improves access for hard-to-reach populations.
• This pathway offers a dual benefit of direct disease prevention and opportunities for broader health management discussions.