Today, less than 10% of the roughly 24 million children under the age of five in the United States have been vaccinated against COVID-19. With the continual emergence of new variants, it is critical for health care providers to have the most current evidence-based information and to fully understand families’ hesitancy so they can promote patient-centered and culturally sensitive conversations about COVID-19 vaccines’ safety and efficacy.
With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s issuance of this new grant, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) will be able to research and develop COVID-19 immunization-related resources for pediatric health care providers and their patients.
“Due to misinformation online and varying reports in the media, families are skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines,” said principal investigator Heather Keesing, MSN, RN, APRN. “Pediatric nurse practitioners and their fellow pediatric-focused advance practice registered nurses understand that vaccines save lives, and it is our duty to fully understand parents’ and caregivers’ concerns so that we can provide them with unbiased, evidence-based guidance for the health and wellbeing of their children.”
Under the grant, NAPNAP is planning a parent and caregiver assessment of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding COVID-19 immunization for their children to guide resource development based on current guidelines from the CDC. Anticipated resources include pediatric provider continuing education and resources to promote positive vaccine conversations with patient families about vaccines’ safety and efficacy. NAPNAP will also develop and curate provider and patient content, including animated videos, on its COVID-19 webpages to encourage families to immunize all eligible members 6 months and older.
“We are pleased to once again be selected by the CDC for a critical public health project to educate providers and families about COVID-19 vaccines,” said NAPNAP Executive Director James H. Wendorf. “As experts in pediatrics and advocates for children, this new project speaks directly to our mission to optimize child and family health.”
NAPNAP was awarded $750,000 to fully fund the campaign via the CDC’s Mobilizing Pediatric Provider Networks: An Education and Training Initiative to Prevent and Control Infectious Disease Threats federal award project. The project will run through September 2024.
Oct. 5, 2022
