Funding outcome

Introduction/background: Canada's growing diversity necessitates the quality of equitable immunization research to be thoroughly examined. It is uncertain whether equity determinants are comprehensively portrayed in Canadian immunization studies. Therefore, we aimed to identify the strengths and shortfalls of current immunization studies, highlighting any need for change. Methods: Our scoping review analyzes the measurement of equity characteristics in Canadian immunization research compared to Australia and New Zealand. Included studies were peer- reviewed; published after or in 2012; written in English; conducted in Canada, Australia, or New Zealand; and focused on determinants of pediatric vaccination. The assessed characteristics included ethnicity, Indigeneity, language, immigration/refugee status, and religion. We calculated the percentage of studies from each country that included our characteristics of interest. Results and analysis: We included 69 articles in this study: 28 Canadian, 21 Australian, and 20 from New Zealand. Ethnicity was assessed in 64.3% of Canadian studies, and 85.7% of Australian and 100% of New Zealand studies. Indigeneity was included in 17.9% of Canadian studies, and 81.0% of Australian and 90.0% of New Zealand studies. Over half (53.6%) of Canadian studies included language, compared to 23.8% of Australian and 10% of New Zealand studies. Sixty percent (60.7%) of Canadian studies included immigration/refugee status compared to 47.6% of Australian and 25.0% of New Zealand studies. Religion was assessed in 35.7% of Canadian studies, 23.8% of Australian and 25.0% of New Zealand studies. A ten-year progress comparison reflects an increase in equity characteristic inclusion for Canada and Australia. Conclusions and implications for policy, practice or additional research: Indigenous communities have sovereignty over their data, which may have contributed to the low inclusion of Indigenous data in Canadian studies. Ethical inclusion of diverse populations will increase research transferability and create equitable solutions for improving pediatric immunization uptake.