Advancing Research in Immunization Services Network (ARISe)
Project Title
Engaging School Communities to Reduce Exemptions to Kindergarten Vaccination Mandates
Funding Dates
09/30/2024 – 09/29/2029
Description
Vaccination requirements for attending school are an effective strategy to protect the public’s health from many communicable diseases. However, the number of families choosing to opt out of these requirements for non-medical reasons has increased dramatically since the Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, national vaccination coverage for required vaccines among kindergarten-aged children has fallen, leading to outbreaks of diseases that were previously controlled. For example, in 2024 measles cases have been reported in 31 US states and territories. The newly funded project, “Engaging School Communities to Reduce Exemptions to Kindergarten Vaccination Mandates” aims to address this critical issue.
The project will partner with school communities in three states that have kindergarten vaccination rates below the national average. The study team will collect data in partnership with parents and school staff to understand why vaccine exemption rates are increasing. The researchers will then work with parent committees to develop school-based strategies to support vaccination, addressing barriers identified by the school community. Finally, the team will pilot test the strategies and evaluate their effectiveness at reducing non-medical exemptions and increasing vaccination coverage in the school communities.
Research Areas
Children’s Health
Additional Topics
Principal Investigator
Melissa Gilkey, PhD
Funding
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention