Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: As the newcomer population in Canada continues to grow, we aimed to collaborate with newcomer families arriving in an urban center in Alberta, Canada to identify strategies to overcome identified barriers newcomers face in obtaining routine childhood vaccine...

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Main Authors: Siobhan M. Wong King Yuen, Emily J. Doucette, Caitlin Ford, Madison M. Fullerton, Ginamaria Vetro, Amanda Koyama, Jia Hu, Cora Constantinescu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Vaccines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1380
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author Siobhan M. Wong King Yuen
Emily J. Doucette
Caitlin Ford
Madison M. Fullerton
Ginamaria Vetro
Amanda Koyama
Jia Hu
Cora Constantinescu
author_facet Siobhan M. Wong King Yuen
Emily J. Doucette
Caitlin Ford
Madison M. Fullerton
Ginamaria Vetro
Amanda Koyama
Jia Hu
Cora Constantinescu
author_sort Siobhan M. Wong King Yuen
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: As the newcomer population in Canada continues to grow, we aimed to collaborate with newcomer families arriving in an urban center in Alberta, Canada to identify strategies to overcome identified barriers newcomers face in obtaining routine childhood vaccines (RCVs). <b>Methods</b>: We recruited newcomers living in Calgary, Alberta to participate in a workshop utilizing the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) to develop solutions addressing barriers to obtaining RCVs. Ranking exercises helped identify the top-proposed interventions based on perceived impact and feasibility for implementation. Based on the identified need for translated vaccine resources, infographics on school-based vaccines were developed. The infographics were pilot-tested in a first-language focus group before the final product was translated into 10 different languages. <b>Results</b>: Consensus from 15 NGT workshop participants identified five key solutions to facilitate obtaining routine childhood immunizations: (1) Increasing access to reliable vaccine information; (2) Ensuring vaccine information and healthcare services are available in different languages; (3) Increasing vaccine appointment availability and optimizing the booking system for ease of navigation; (4) Increasing the role of family doctors in vaccine counseling and administration; (5) Streamlining vaccine record tracking. We developed infographics on the vaccines children in Alberta can receive through school-based vaccine programs and these were pilot-tested with 16 participants in a first-language (Arabic) focus group. <b>Conclusions</b>: The collaborative and iterative process of solution development with newcomers provided a platform for knowledge translation through the development of educational resources on school-based vaccines, addressing the information barrier that newcomers identified when accessing RCVs.
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spelling doaj-art-eba61ac2875345c09a3aeddc77b8e00c2025-08-20T02:56:55ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2024-12-011212138010.3390/vaccines12121380Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, CanadaSiobhan M. Wong King Yuen0Emily J. Doucette1Caitlin Ford2Madison M. Fullerton3Ginamaria Vetro4Amanda Koyama5Jia Hu6Cora Constantinescu7Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada19 to Zero Inc., Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1B1, Canada19 to Zero Inc., Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1B1, Canada19 to Zero Inc., Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1B1, CanadaCalgary Catholic Immigration Society, Calgary, AB T2R 0G5, Canada19 to Zero Inc., Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1B1, CanadaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada<b>Background/Objectives</b>: As the newcomer population in Canada continues to grow, we aimed to collaborate with newcomer families arriving in an urban center in Alberta, Canada to identify strategies to overcome identified barriers newcomers face in obtaining routine childhood vaccines (RCVs). <b>Methods</b>: We recruited newcomers living in Calgary, Alberta to participate in a workshop utilizing the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) to develop solutions addressing barriers to obtaining RCVs. Ranking exercises helped identify the top-proposed interventions based on perceived impact and feasibility for implementation. Based on the identified need for translated vaccine resources, infographics on school-based vaccines were developed. The infographics were pilot-tested in a first-language focus group before the final product was translated into 10 different languages. <b>Results</b>: Consensus from 15 NGT workshop participants identified five key solutions to facilitate obtaining routine childhood immunizations: (1) Increasing access to reliable vaccine information; (2) Ensuring vaccine information and healthcare services are available in different languages; (3) Increasing vaccine appointment availability and optimizing the booking system for ease of navigation; (4) Increasing the role of family doctors in vaccine counseling and administration; (5) Streamlining vaccine record tracking. We developed infographics on the vaccines children in Alberta can receive through school-based vaccine programs and these were pilot-tested with 16 participants in a first-language (Arabic) focus group. <b>Conclusions</b>: The collaborative and iterative process of solution development with newcomers provided a platform for knowledge translation through the development of educational resources on school-based vaccines, addressing the information barrier that newcomers identified when accessing RCVs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1380routine childhood vaccinesnewcomerimmunizationsaccessequityqualitative methods
spellingShingle Siobhan M. Wong King Yuen
Emily J. Doucette
Caitlin Ford
Madison M. Fullerton
Ginamaria Vetro
Amanda Koyama
Jia Hu
Cora Constantinescu
Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada
Vaccines
routine childhood vaccines
newcomer
immunizations
access
equity
qualitative methods
title Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada
title_full Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada
title_fullStr Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada
title_full_unstemmed Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada
title_short Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada
title_sort addressing barriers newcomer families face when obtaining routine childhood vaccines in alberta canada
topic routine childhood vaccines
newcomer
immunizations
access
equity
qualitative methods
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1380
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