NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Improving vaccine access and acceptance in rural and border communities

Official title: Community-Based Participatory Research to Enhance Vaccine Uptake Across the Lifespan through Innovative Points of Access and Altering Norms in Border and Rural Regions

Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11047893 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how we can help more people in rural and border areas get vaccinated by offering vaccines at dental clinics, and it aims to find out what might be stopping people from getting their shots while working with families and healthcare providers to make it easier for everyone.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Arizona
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tucson, United States)
Project startSeptember 30, 2024
Project endSeptember 29, 2029
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$350,000
NIH project number1U48DP006882-01
Project IDNIH-11047893 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research include individuals and families living in rural or border areas who may have limited access to traditional healthcare services.

Less likely to help

Patients who are already fully vaccinated or those living in urban areas with adequate healthcare access may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing vaccination rates in rural and border regions by integrating immunization services into dental clinics. The project aims to identify barriers to vaccine uptake and engage various stakeholders, including individuals, families, and healthcare providers, to promote vaccination. By placing immunization specialists in dental clinics, the initiative seeks to create innovative points of access for vaccines and evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies over time.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase vaccination rates and improve public health outcomes in underserved communities.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that integrating healthcare services, such as immunizations into dental clinics, can effectively increase vaccine uptake in underserved populations.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Arizona
    Tucson, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Nuno, Thomas — University of Arizona
  • Study coordinator: Nuno, Thomas

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.