Strengthening school-age immunisation uptake through partnership working in Wolverhampton

Over the past five years, the City of Wolverhampton Council public health team has developed a strong working relationship with Vaccination UK, the School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS). This approach evolved in response to a number of operational and engagement challenges affecting the delivery of school-age vaccination programmes.

These challenges included complexities around General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and consent processes, limited access to school communication channels, and inconsistent engagement from school leads. More widely, communication between system partners, including schools, providers and commissioners, was not always well aligned.

In response, the public health team took on a more proactive system leadership role, acting as a facilitator between schools, SAIS and wider partners, including the Integrated Care Board (ICB). The focus was on improving coordination, strengthening engagement and supporting sustained improvements in vaccination uptake.

The approach has centred on building strong relationships, creating regular opportunities for joint working and providing practical support to schools and partners.

Consistent engagement with SAIS has been a key element. Monthly meetings provide a regular opportunity to review delivery, address challenges and plan ahead. Alongside this, online information and question and answer sessions are offered to schools ahead of each vaccination programme. Delivered jointly with SAIS, these sessions outline the vaccination offer, explain consent processes and give schools the opportunity to raise questions in advance of on-site clinics.

Strengthening links with the council education team and schools has also been a priority. The council has facilitated access for SAIS into existing education forums, including biannual attendance at director-level meetings, Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) networks and wider school-facing sessions. This has led to increased visibility for SAIS, including invitations to attend assemblies and staff training days, helping to raise awareness and build confidence among pupils, staff and families. School leads have also been supported to strengthen their role in coordinating vaccination activity

To support this, the council has developed a range of practical resources to make it easier for schools to engage. This includes an immunisation best practice guide with planning timelines, template communications for use on school platforms, and guidance to support uptake. Additional resources, including lesson plans and seasonal campaigns linked to flu and winter illness, are supported by a dedicated website and digital materials such as books and animations. These have helped provide clear, consistent and accessible information for children, parents and schools.

Targeted work has also improved access for groups who were previously less engaged. Stronger coordination across council services and closer working with education teams have supported improved engagement with home-schooled children, those in the youth justice system, and children requiring catch-up vaccinations. This has been complemented by clinics delivered in community settings, such as leisure centres, family hubs and local events, helping to make services more accessible.

The council has played a key enabling role throughout. Rather than delivering vaccinations directly, it has focused on connecting partners, supporting schools and helping to remove barriers within the system.

This has involved bringing together education, providers and commissioners, facilitating access into schools, identifying gaps and supporting practical solutions. A consistent presence and sustained engagement have helped build trust across partners, making it easier to address issues and improve delivery over time.

Over the past five years, this approach has contributed to steady improvements in school-age immunisation uptake. Data shows year-on-year increases across all programmes, with a clear upward trend over time.

Engagement with schools has strengthened significantly, with improved access to senior leaders, assemblies and established communication routes with parents and carers. This has supported more effective promotion of vaccination programmes and increased participation.

Delivery has also become more flexible and responsive. Targeted and catch-up clinics have improved access for children who may otherwise have been missed, while better planning and communication have supported smoother delivery overall.

This way of working has been recognised at system level and replicated in other areas across the Black Country, demonstrating its wider value.

Key Learning

This work has highlighted the importance of investing time in relationships. Strong, trusted connections between partners have made it easier to access schools, share information and respond to challenges.

Providing practical support to schools, alongside clear and consistent communication, has also been important in improving engagement. Working collaboratively to address issues, particularly around consent and processes, has helped remove barriers to uptake.

What began as a focused piece of work has now become embedded in routine practice. Regular meetings, joint planning and ongoing engagement are part of standard delivery.

The next phase will focus on maintaining this momentum, continuing to improve access for underserved groups and sustaining the relationships that have supported progress to date.

Conclusion

The relationship between the council's public health team and SAIS has played an important role in strengthening school-age immunisation delivery. Through a focus on coordination, engagement and practical support, this approach has improved access, supported increased uptake and strengthened partnership working across the system.