Improving Vaccination in Rural New England
ARISe Center for Rural Vaccination at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
This project will work with rural New England communities to find better ways to encourage vaccinations for people of all ages by looking at social media, hearing local concerns, and trying community outreach ideas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11186969 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This center will partner with communities across the six New England states to understand why vaccination rates are lower in rural areas. The team will analyze social media content that may spread hesitancy, and will talk directly with residents through interviews, surveys, and focus groups to learn local concerns. They will pilot community-level outreach and tailored messaging to see which approaches increase willingness to vaccinate. Results will be used to recommend practical steps communities can use to promote immunization.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who live in rural communities in the six New England states who can take part in interviews, surveys, or local outreach activities about vaccination.
Not a fit: People who do not live in the targeted rural New England areas or those seeking direct medical treatment for unrelated health conditions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could increase vaccine uptake and trust in rural communities, leading to better protection against preventable diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Past community-based vaccine promotion and targeted messaging efforts have had mixed but promising results, and this project builds on those approaches while testing new rural-focused methods.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryan, Grace W — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Ryan, Grace W
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 below.