Changing attitudes to vaccination in Devon, Plymouth & Torbay
Executive Summary
Despite widespread access to vaccination services, uptake among at-risk groups in Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay is declining—raising urgent public health concerns.
The phenomenon of vaccine fatigue has been observed amongst the public, which, in terms of disease prevention and protecting hospital resources, marks a concerning trend.
Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay investigated the situation by means of a survey conducted via face-to-face interviews and an online survey.
As well as highlighting procedure satisfaction, staff praise and regional disparities, the results provide an insight into reasons for vaccine refusal. These include concerns about side effects, mistrust of vaccination programmes, and a clear expression of vaccine fatigue.
Considering these results, Healthwatch have the following recommendations:
- COVID-19 Booster Strategy: NHS Devon needs to adopt a more segmented approach to the COVID-19 booster campaign, ensuring key messages are tailored to address the distinct reasons for hesitancy among different demographic groups.
- Targeting Health Inequalities: A focused effort is needed to address the geographical and demographic disparities in uptake identified in the report, ensuring equitable access and engagement across the region.
- Public Dialogue and Trust: Health messaging should be revised to move beyond simple information provision. Communications must be transparent, proactively address concerns about side effects, and engage in a genuine two-way dialogue to rebuild public trust.
