Motivational interviewing to increase COVID-19 and flu vaccination
Official title: Motivational Interviewing Training to Promote COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination (MI-VAX): What Providers Need and Patients Want
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11412464 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project teaches primary care providers conversational skills to help more adults, especially those in vulnerable communities, feel comfortable getting COVID-19 and flu shots.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | June 27, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $709,286 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD018611-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412464 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults (21+) who are unvaccinated or unsure about COVID-19 or influenza vaccines, particularly those from racial/ethnic minority, non–US-born, or low-income groups who receive care in or near Worcester.
✕Less likely to help
People already up-to-date on COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, children, or individuals who live far from the Worcester area are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
I would have my primary care team trained in motivational interviewing, a respectful way of talking that helps people make their own decisions about vaccines. Providers will receive targeted training and tools for conversations about COVID-19 and influenza vaccination. The team will follow adult patients, especially those from racial/ethnic minority and low-income groups, using surveys and medical records to see if vaccine decisions change after providers get the training. The work will be done in primary care clinics in and near Worcester, Massachusetts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more adults in vulnerable communities may get COVID-19 and flu vaccines, which could reduce illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Motivational interviewing has shown promise in improving vaccine uptake and other preventive behaviors in prior studies, but its specific impact on COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccination among vulnerable adults remains under study.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher, Kimberly — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Fisher, Kimberly
Related research
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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.