Project Area: Population health research
Project Summary
Since the beginning of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) expanded programme on immunisations (EPI), vaccines have played a crucial role in controlling, eliminating, and even eradicating several infectious diseases leading to a significant decline in mortality and morbidity among infants and children worldwide. The public health achievements of vaccines are undermined by parents who decline, delay or are unable to access vaccinations and booster vaccinations for their children.
Data on routine childhood vaccination uptake can only tell us who is under-vaccinated; it cannot explain why vaccine coverage is low. While socio-economic disparities in childhood vaccine uptake are well documented, this project aims to identify strategies to improve booster vaccination rates through four objectives: (1) identify parent level barriers to childhood vaccine uptake in a socio-economic disadvantaged area, ( 2) explore barriers and facilitators from service providers perspectives, (3) co-design and develop a school based intervention with parents and service providers to increase booster vaccination uptake rates (4 in 1 (DtaP-IPV) and MMR) and (4) develop a p pilot feasibility study protocol to implement and evaluate the intervention programme. By incorporating multiple stakeholders’ insights, this research aims to inform public health strategies and achieve the WHO’s 95% childhood vaccination target.
Skills Required
(If applying for this project you will be asked to outline how you meet the skills required below)
The candidate should hold a BSc and/or MSc in a health-related field. It is essential that the candidate is open to engaging with multi-stakeholder groups and prior experience in quantitative research methods is essential. Qualitative or mixed methods research methodology is also desirable. The candidate should demonstrate effective communication skills coupled with exceptional time-management and organisational abilities. Furthermore, the candidate should exhibit a strong commitment to personal and professional development.
Supervisory team:
Dr Paula Flanagan and Professor Michelle Butler, PIs/Primary Supervisors
School of Nursing Psychotherapy & Community Health, DCU
This project will be based in DCU.
