Training healthcare providers to encourage COVID-19 and flu vaccinations
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-11126677 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping doctors talk to people who are unsure about getting COVID-19 and flu vaccines, especially those who might face extra challenges, so they can feel more comfortable and confident in getting vaccinated.
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, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $640,814 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD018611-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126677 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are hesitant about receiving COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza or those who are not eligible for vaccination will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on addressing vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 and influenza among vulnerable adult populations. It aims to develop and implement a training program for primary care providers (PCPs) using motivational interviewing techniques to effectively communicate the importance of vaccinations. By enhancing the skills of healthcare providers, the project seeks to improve vaccination rates and reduce disparities in vaccine uptake among different racial and socioeconomic groups. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of this training in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase vaccination rates for COVID-19 and influenza, leading to better health outcomes and reduced hospitalizations in vulnerable populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that motivational interviewing can effectively reduce vaccine hesitancy, suggesting that this approach may yield positive results in increasing vaccination rates.
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
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Motivational interviewing to increase COVID-19 and flu vaccination
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.
-
Improving COVID-19 and flu vaccination rates among adults with chronic diseases in underserved communities
This study is testing a new way to help people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds with chronic illnesses get vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu by using community health workers who provide personalized support and information.
-
Improving influenza vaccination and pandemic response strategies using data models
This study is working on new tools to help improve flu vaccines and responses during flu outbreaks, using data from the Michigan Influenza Center to better understand how community immunity affects vaccine success, so health officials can make smarter decisions about vaccinations and treatments.
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Vaccine failure after Covid-19 vaccination in older adults
This project follows vaccinated older adults to understand who among them still gets Covid-19 and what factors make those outcomes worse.
-
How the immune system responds to flu shots and flu infection
This project looks at how adults' immune systems react after flu shots or when they catch the flu to find why some people get better protection than others.
-
Universal flu vaccine strategy to protect against diverse influenza strains
A research team is testing new vaccine designs aimed at broad protection against many flu strains for people who want lasting immunity.
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.