Introductions
Introduce researcher(s).
Give overview of what the project is about, emphasising that we are interested in preschool vaccinations, not childhood vaccinations for older children.
Check they have had a copy of the information sheet.
Collect consent form – turn on tape.
General
First, I would just like to know about your role and how you are involved with the childhood vaccination programme.
Could you give me an overview of your current job role and how that involves you in childhood vaccinations?
What are your views about the way vaccinations are co-ordinated (a) at national level and (b) at local level?
What are your main concerns about how vaccinations are delivered (a) at national level and (b) at local level?
Are you happy with current uptake rates in your area?
– Use uptake data for each locality to spark discussion about where uptake is over or under recommended rates.
– Is uptake lower in certain groups? Age of mother/deprivation?
– Are they targeted in any way locally/nationally
Do you think anything could be done to increase vaccination rates?
– Linking to previous question. Could strategic decisions be made to increase uptake?
– Would any action be likely to up-skittle the apple cart?
– Could vaccinations be better organised ‘on the ground’?
Introduce here the concept of incentives and mandates to sensitise participants to what is to come.
What are your views on incentivising parents to immunise their children?
What kind of incentives do you think might make parents want to immunise their child?
What do you think about making vaccination mandatory, so everyone HAS to immunise their child?
Scenarios
Next the interview will move onto a set of scenarios to introduce different possible incentive schemes aimed at increasing vaccination rates.
Gift of money (universal)
This scenario will explore the use of providing a universal financial incentive to parents, i.e. a cash payment upon the completion of each course of vaccination.
Gift of money (targeted)
This scenario will explore the provision of a cash incentive that is available only to parents who have not completed a full course of vaccinations by the time the child is 5 years old.
Receipt of universal benefits (Child Benefit) dependent on vaccination
This scenario will explore the acceptability of only giving universal benefits (such as Child Benefit) to parents who adhere to the recommended vaccination schedule. Parents of children who are not up to date would have their benefits stopped or capped in some way until such time as they were immunised.
Removal of childcare contributions if child is not immunised
This scenario will explore the acceptability of removing childcare contributions from parents who adhere to the recommended vaccination schedule. Parents of children who are not up to date would have their childcare contributions stopped until such time as they were immunised.
Mandatory for entry to day care (nursery/childminder, etc.)
This scenario will explore the feasibility and acceptability of refusing any child who is not fully immunised entry into formal day-care facilities.
Mandatory for entry into school
This scenario will explore the feasibility and acceptability of refusing any child who is not fully immunised entry into school.
For each scenario ask:
What effect, if any, do you think introducing [insert incentive scheme] would have on uptake rates?
Do you think it is feasible to offer [insert incentive scheme]?
Do you think it is appropriate to offer [insert incentive scheme]?
Do you think it could work ‘in practice’?
– Would it be possible to implement it?
– How would it affect your job?
– If not, are there ways to make it workable?
How much money do you think it would be appropriate to offer?
What would the impact be on your role?
Finisher
Thinking about financial incentives and mandates do you think either method would help to increase vaccination rates?
Which, if any, would be better to implement and police?
What else could be done to increase vaccination rates?
Close by thanking for their time.
