BREATHE Well: Training early-childcare staff to boost vaccination discussions
Official title: BREATHE WELL: Development and Implementation of a Training Program to Increase Vaccination in Early Childcare and Education Centers
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11422089 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A training program for early childcare staff to help them talk with families about vaccines and respiratory health, with a focus on boosting uptake of vaccines like flu, COVID-19, and maternal RSV in Michigan centers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2025 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $499,954 |
| NIH project number | 5U48DP006966-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422089 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are families with children enrolled in participating ECE centers within Michigan and staff who interact with parents about health topics.
✕Less likely to help
Families not enrolled in participating centers or in regions outside the study’s demonstration sites may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project creates a toolkit and training for staff at childcare centers to become trusted messengers about vaccines. It will develop, test, and refine the BREATHE Well toolkit with input from educators, parents, and public health officials. The team will run a cluster-randomized trial in Michigan demonstration sites to see if the toolkit improves parents' confidence and intentions to vaccinate, and enhances staff ability to discuss vaccination.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the toolkit could make it easier for families to make informed vaccination choices and improve immunization rates through trusted conversations at early-childcare settings.
How similar studies have gone: Similar communication training interventions in healthcare settings have shown promise in increasing vaccine confidence and uptake, but this program specifically targets ECE centers and non-mandated vaccines.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wagner, Abram Luther — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Wagner, Abram Luther
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.