Understanding the Factors that Influence Vaccine Uptake in New Brunswick
Purpose:
Public Health New Brunswick (PHNB), in collaboration with ResearchNB, is opening a competition (independently peer-reviewed) to provide funds for research to understand behavioural, social, economic, cultural, and systemic factors that influence vaccine uptake among diverse populations in New Brunswick.
Immunization remains one of the most effective public health interventions for preventing the spread of infectious diseases and protecting vulnerable populations. The provincial government delivers publicly funded immunization programs throughout the lifespan according to the New Brunswick Immunization Schedule.
Despite vaccine availability and immunization communication campaigns, disparities in vaccine uptake persist. Behavioral, structural, and systemic factors contribute to these gaps.
- Misinformation and disinformation: Social media influence has fueled vaccine hesitancy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among youth and young adults due to their reliance on peer-shared information.
- Communication gaps: Many individuals have limited understanding of vaccine science and demonstrate distrust toward public health messaging.
- Disparities and inequities: Newcomers, racialized groups, and other marginalized populations often face systemic barriers to vaccination, including lack of culturally safe services which can contribute to mistrust in the health system.
- Geographic differences: Rural and remote communities often have fewer vaccination sites, limited outreach efforts, and reduced access to healthcare providers.
These factors (and more) can compromise herd immunity, prolong outbreaks, and place vulnerable groups at increased risk.
Results from the 2023 Adult National Immunization Coverage Survey reveal that New Brunswick had lower coverage rates for most routine vaccines compared to the national average. Provincially, the percentage of students meeting immunization requirements for school entry in 2023/24 decreased according to the School Immunization Program Report.
In 2024, New Brunswick experienced a significant measles outbreak, the largest in the province in decades.
During 2024-2025, there was a provincial pertussis outbreak in New Brunswick. These outbreaks highlight the importance of immunization coverage rates to control vaccine preventable disease and indicate the necessity to examine factors that influence vaccine uptake in the province. Understanding the complex influences on vaccine uptake in New Brunswick is essential to support public health strategic direction toward strengthening vaccine programming and communication in the province.
This research aims to understand the complex factors influencing immunization uptake in New Brunswick. Findings will enhance understanding of barriers to immunization and inform evidence-based recommendations for public health messaging and interventions that promote vaccine confidence, reduce access gaps, and improve the overall effectiveness of immunization programs across the province.
Eligibility:
- Must have research and/or evaluation experience in one or more of the following areas: Determinants of Health, Population Health.
- Must have the capacity for qualitative and quantitative survey design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
- Must hold a university faculty appointment or equivalent at a New Brunswick University or Institution.
- Must have an advanced degree in public health, epidemiology, health sciences, social sciences or a closely related field.
- Demonstrates knowledge of immunization programs.
- Has experience engaging diverse populations including but not limited to newcomers, indigenous communities, rural residents, etc.
- Has a team proficient in English and French
- Is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or actively pursuing such status; and
- Not have received funding from, or affiliation with, a manufacturer or distributor of vaccines, pharmaceutical companies with vested interests in immunization products, or organizations with known opposition to immunization (e.g. anti-vaccine advocacy groups), within the past ten years.
- Applicants may, and are encouraged to, involve experts in immunization-related fields such as behavioral science, social science, epidemiology, health equity, and community engagement, as well as community organizations and additional researchers (in New Brunswick or in other provinces / territories) to enhance the depth and scope of the research team and support their proposed activities, so long as these individuals are also free from conflict of interest (i.e., are not named in another application).
Eligible Expenses:
All expenses are deemed eligible apart from paying compensation of the award recipient, overhead / indirect costs or any retroactive expenses.
Application Procedure:
Applications for this fund are only accepted through the ResearchNB application portal and are evaluated against the evaluation criteria for this fund.
Prior to peer review, the Department of Health will conduct an initial eligibility screening. Applications that are deemed out of scope at this stage may be declined and will not proceed with the peer review process.
Award Duration and Reporting:
Recipients will be asked to meet virtually with the Department for a kick-off meeting, quarterly during the project and for a close-out meeting.
Project is expected to be completed within 12 months of receiving the Notice of Decision letter. A final report shall be submitted through the portal 90 days from the end of the project. These reports are to be completed via the application portal.
Fund Manager: Vy Cung (vy@researchnb.ca)
Application Form:
Evaluation Criteria:
Public Health Research Fund
Understanding the Factors that Influence Vaccine Uptake in New Brunswick
Purpose:
Public Health New Brunswick (PHNB), in collaboration with ResearchNB, is opening a competition (independently peer-reviewed) to provide funds for research to understand behavioural, social, economic, cultural, and systemic factors that influence vaccine uptake among diverse populations in New Brunswick.
Immunization remains one of the most effective public health interventions for preventing the spread of infectious diseases and protecting vulnerable populations. The provincial government delivers publicly funded immunization programs throughout the lifespan according to the New Brunswick Immunization Schedule.
Despite vaccine availability and immunization communication campaigns, disparities in vaccine uptake persist. Behavioral, structural, and systemic factors contribute to these gaps.
- Misinformation and disinformation: Social media influence has fueled vaccine hesitancy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among youth and young adults due to their reliance on peer-shared information.
- Communication gaps: Many individuals have limited understanding of vaccine science and demonstrate distrust toward public health messaging.
- Disparities and inequities: Newcomers, racialized groups, and other marginalized populations often face systemic barriers to vaccination, including lack of culturally safe services which can contribute to mistrust in the health system.
- Geographic differences: Rural and remote communities often have fewer vaccination sites, limited outreach efforts, and reduced access to healthcare providers.
These factors (and more) can compromise herd immunity, prolong outbreaks, and place vulnerable groups at increased risk.
Results from the 2023 Adult National Immunization Coverage Survey reveal that New Brunswick had lower coverage rates for most routine vaccines compared to the national average. Provincially, the percentage of students meeting immunization requirements for school entry in 2023/24 decreased according to the School Immunization Program Report.
In 2024, New Brunswick experienced a significant measles outbreak, the largest in the province in decades.
During 2024-2025, there was a provincial pertussis outbreak in New Brunswick. These outbreaks highlight the importance of immunization coverage rates to control vaccine preventable disease and indicate the necessity to examine factors that influence vaccine uptake in the province. Understanding the complex influences on vaccine uptake in New Brunswick is essential to support public health strategic direction toward strengthening vaccine programming and communication in the province.
This research aims to understand the complex factors influencing immunization uptake in New Brunswick. Findings will enhance understanding of barriers to immunization and inform evidence-based recommendations for public health messaging and interventions that promote vaccine confidence, reduce access gaps, and improve the overall effectiveness of immunization programs across the province.
Eligibility:
- Must have research and/or evaluation experience in one or more of the following areas: Determinants of Health, Population Health.
- Must have the capacity for qualitative and quantitative survey design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
- Must hold a university faculty appointment or equivalent at a New Brunswick University or Institution.
- Must have an advanced degree in public health, epidemiology, health sciences, social sciences or a closely related field.
- Demonstrates knowledge of immunization programs.
- Has experience engaging diverse populations including but not limited to newcomers, indigenous communities, rural residents, etc.
- Has a team proficient in English and French
- Is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or actively pursuing such status; and
- Not have received funding from, or affiliation with, a manufacturer or distributor of vaccines, pharmaceutical companies with vested interests in immunization products, or organizations with known opposition to immunization (e.g. anti-vaccine advocacy groups), within the past ten years.
- Applicants may, and are encouraged to, involve experts in immunization-related fields such as behavioral science, social science, epidemiology, health equity, and community engagement, as well as community organizations and additional researchers (in New Brunswick or in other provinces / territories) to enhance the depth and scope of the research team and support their proposed activities, so long as these individuals are also free from conflict of interest (i.e., are not named in another application).
Eligible Expenses:
All expenses are deemed eligible apart from paying compensation of the award recipient, overhead / indirect costs or any retroactive expenses.
Application Procedure:
Applications for this fund are only accepted through the ResearchNB application portal and are evaluated against the evaluation criteria for this fund.
Prior to peer review, the Department of Health will conduct an initial eligibility screening. Applications that are deemed out of scope at this stage may be declined and will not proceed with the peer review process.
Award Duration and Reporting:
Recipients will be asked to meet virtually with the Department for a kick-off meeting, quarterly during the project and for a close-out meeting.
Project is expected to be completed within 12 months of receiving the Notice of Decision letter. A final report shall be submitted through the portal 90 days from the end of the project. These reports are to be completed via the application portal.
Fund Manager: Vy Cung (vy@researchnb.ca)
Application Form:
Evaluation Criteria: