IFPHOR0053 Evaluating the Leeds Community Vaccine Champion Programme: Building Trust and Connecting with Communities to Tackle Vaccine Inequality

Falling vaccination uptake has led to increases in preventable diseases such as measles across the UK. Disadvantaged and underserved communities, where uptake is lowest, are disproportionately affected, exacerbating health inequalities and leaving many individuals at risk (Flatt et al., 2024; UKHSA, 2025). The Leeds Community Vaccine Champion Programme (the ‘programme’), commissioned by NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, aims to support awareness and vaccine uptake within low-uptake communities. The programme utilises a community-centred approach, building on previous successful work (South and Southby, 2023). Volunteer community champions and voluntary sector organisations, deliver tailored messages and have conversations with community members. This evaluation aimed to capture learning regarding delivery, identify contributions to improving uptake and inform future strategies.The evaluation was mixed method, occurring alongside implementation, with steering group input. Methods included volunteer focus groups/interviews (8 participants), interviews with small grant recipients (11 participants), programme managers, commissioners and stakeholders (8 participants) plus analysis of monitoring data.The programme increased vaccine knowledge and awareness, with some evidence of behaviour change. The proactive approach reached underserved communities, with champions having meaningful two-way conversations to tackle misinformation and overcome barriers to access. Establishing trust, being embedded within communities and using culturally appropriate language and communication were key. Champions were a ‘bridge’ into communities, whilst also feeding back from communities to commissioners.Community Vaccine Champions effectively engaged with communities with low vaccine uptake. Such community centred approaches are thus a vital part of tackling falling vaccination rates and reducing inequality.