Helping school communities reduce kindergarten vaccination exemptions

Engaging school communities to prevent exemptions to kindergarten vaccination mandates

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11047214

This study is looking into why more parents are choosing not to vaccinate their kids for kindergarten, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, and it aims to help schools in places like Georgia, Wisconsin, and Idaho come up with friendly ways to encourage families to get their children vaccinated.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11047214 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to understand and address the reasons behind the increasing exemptions to kindergarten vaccination mandates, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. By partnering with school communities in states like Georgia, Wisconsin, and Idaho, the project will develop interventions that target vaccine hesitancy among parents. The approach includes identifying the factors that contribute to vaccine exemptions and implementing school-based strategies to improve vaccination rates. The goal is to create supportive environments that encourage parents to vaccinate their children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are parents of kindergarten-age children, particularly those who may be considering or have filed for vaccination exemptions.

Not a fit: Patients who are not parents of kindergarten-age children or those who are already fully vaccinated may not receive direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to increased vaccination rates among kindergarten-age children, thereby enhancing community health and preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that school-based interventions can effectively influence vaccination behaviors, making this approach promising based on past successes.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.