Understanding how geography affects measles vaccination rates in The Gambia
Official title: Investigating the contribution of geographic accessibility and vaccine delivery channels to untimely measles vaccination and zero-dose prevalence in The Gambia: implications for disease outbreaks
Funded at Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · NIH-11072029 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at why some kids in The Gambia aren't getting their measles vaccinations on time, focusing on how easy it is for families to access vaccines, and it aims to find ways to make sure all children get vaccinated to keep everyone safe from measles.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fajara, Gambia) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $112,542 |
| NIH project number | 5K43TW012574-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11072029 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old living in The Gambia who are either unvaccinated or have received their vaccinations later than recommended.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already fully vaccinated against measles or do not reside in The Gambia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the reasons behind delays in measles vaccinations among children in The Gambia, focusing on geographic accessibility and the effectiveness of vaccine delivery channels. By using advanced mapping techniques, the study aims to identify communities where children are not receiving timely vaccinations or are completely unvaccinated. The project will analyze data from health surveillance systems to understand the impact of these delays on herd immunity and the risk of measles outbreaks. The findings could help improve vaccination strategies and access in underserved areas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved vaccination rates and better protection against measles outbreaks for children in The Gambia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing geographic and logistical barriers can significantly improve vaccination rates in similar low-income settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Fajara, Gambia Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wariri, Oghenebrume — Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wariri, Oghenebrume
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Protective dengue vaccines that steer T and B cell responses
A vaccine study aims to guide the body’s T and B cells to fight all four dengue virus types safely and effectively.
-
Respiratory pathogen–specific T cell signatures after vaccination, infection, and treatment
A research effort to map how immune T cells respond to respiratory infections and vaccines, with potential to guide better vaccines and treatments for conditions like covid-19 and pertussis.
-
Malaria vaccine and infection: how the body’s early and later immune responses relate to protection
Researchers are studying how people’s immune systems respond to the malaria pre-erythrocytic stage, whether after vaccination or infection, to identify which responses are linked to protection.
-
Spatially responsive mass vaccination for urban rabies
A new plan uses data and maps to place vaccination sites where they’re most needed in cities, aiming to boost rabies vaccination for both people and dogs.
-
Spatially responsive mass vaccination for urban rabies
A project tests smarter placement of vaccination sites to increase mass canine rabies vaccination in cities.
-
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.
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.