New report highlights the power of trusted community conversations to improve vaccination confidence

A new report from Community Action Derby has highlighted how trusted local organisations are helping people make more informed decisions about vaccination through open, community-led conversations.

A new report from Community Action Derby has highlighted how trusted local organisations are helping people make more informed decisions about vaccination through open, community-led conversations.

The Vaccination Wave 3 Report brings together learning from a project delivered by Community Action Derby through the Derby Health Inequalities Partnership (DHIP), funded by NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Nine voluntary and community organisations delivered 39 engagement sessions, reaching 1,306 people and supporting conversations around COVID-19, flu, RSV and other routine vaccinations, particularly among communities experiencing health inequalities.

Rather than finding opposition to vaccination, the report shows that many people were looking for something much simpler – clear information from trusted sources and the opportunity to ask questions without fear of judgement.

Sessions were held in familiar community settings and explored people's experiences, concerns and the barriers they face in accessing health information and services. Community connectors from local organisations played a vital role in creating safe, culturally appropriate spaces where people felt comfortable discussing sensitive health topics.

The report also demonstrates the value of community-led approaches in tackling health inequalities. Participants engaged most effectively when information was shared through trusted people in familiar community settings, rather than relying on formal or clinical settings alone.

The findings will help shape future approaches to vaccination engagement and wider public health work by highlighting the importance of long-term relationships, culturally appropriate communication and partnership working with the voluntary and community sector.

Read the full Vaccination Wave 3 Report here to find out more about the project, its findings and recommendations.