RISE-Vac—Co-production of Vaccine Education Materials with Persons Living in Prison

Abstract

Increasing vaccination knowledge is effective in addressing hesitancy and is particularly important in populations deprived of liberty who may not routinely have access to health information, ensuring health equity. RISE-Vac is a European Union–funded project aiming to promote vaccine literacy, offer, and uptake in prisons in Europe. We consulted persons living in prisons in the United Kingdom (through the Prisoner Policy Network), France, and Moldova to determine their vaccination knowledge gaps, the information they would like to receive, and how they would like to receive it. We received 344 responses: 224 from the United Kingdom, 70 from France, and 50 from Moldova. Participants were particularly interested in learning about the effectiveness, side effects, and manufacturing of vaccines. Their responses guided the development of educational materials, including a brochure that will be piloted in prisons in Europe. Persons with experience of imprisonment were involved at every stage of this project.

Carceral Health is Public Health

“…First, partnerships among health, social service, and carceral agencies need to improve at all jurisdictional levels. Lessons from COVID-19 highlight a variety of ways to achieve this goal, and organizations found success when they broadened the definition of who their partners are or should be, not only outside their organizations but also within them, including incarcerated persons (8,10,14,15).…”