Addressing Health Inequalities in RSV: Lessons from Barnardo's Public Health Campaign (Rukshana Kapasi)

The presentation was delivered and recorded during the 10th Lifecourse Prevention Summit 2025

In this briefing, Rukshana Kapasi presents a public health campaign delivered by Barnardo's, the UK's largest children's charity, to raise awareness of RSV management among underserved communities. Developed in partnership with clinical experts, grassroots organizations, and communities themselves, the campaign used culturally competent communication, multilingual support, and an integrated health and social care approach to reach families that standard NHS outreach had failed to engage.

Kapasi highlights persistent disparities in RSV vaccine uptake — including stark differences across ethnic communities — and argues that effective public health responses must go beyond health information alone, addressing the social and structural factors that shape families' lives. The campaign's evaluation showed that half of those reached needed wider support beyond health advice, underscoring the importance of integrated approaches.

Her central message is that reaching underserved communities requires working through trusted local partners, co-producing resources with communities, and recognizing that health and social care needs are inextricably linked. This session further explores the subject in depth, highlighting key takeaways, implications for policy and practice, and insights from the expert presenter to help inform future strategies.