Research Summary
Vaccinations save lives—yet hundreds of millions of people still suffer from preventable diseases because vaccination programs fail to achieve and sustain high vaccination coverage. To be effective at the population level, vaccines must be widely trusted, accessible and equitable. Dr. Nicole Basta, Canada Research Chair in Infectious Disease Prevention, aims to answer critical questions about how to maximize vaccine impact and deliver effective immunization programs.
To identify and characterize missed opportunities, Basta and her research team are drawing on data sources that are not routinely used to assess vaccination coverage. This will advance our understanding of the challenges, opportunities and lessons learned during the implementation of vaccination programs and help prepare and launch new programs. Ultimately, Basta’s work will reduce the burden of infectious diseases worldwide by addressing many of the challenges that hamper our efforts to prevent and control infectious disease.