Funding outcome

Vaccines given during the teen years in Canada are not reaching enough young people to fully prevent diseases such as HPV and meningitis. While both vaccine hesitancy and access can create barriers, research suggests that only about half of those not immunized may have specifically chosen not to be. School-based immunization programs can make vaccines easier to access, but the consent process may create barriers that make it harder for some adolescents to get immunized. Consent forms may be lost, forgotten, or not returned, and healthcare providers may not always know when a young person can give consent on their own. This can lead to missed chances for immunization. In First Nations settings, these challenges may also be affected by different caregiving roles, shared family decision-making, and the ongoing effects of past harms caused by healthcare systems. Yet there is very little research in Canada on how vaccine consent works for First Nations adolescents. This study was co-developed through a long-term research partnership between Maskwacîs Health Services and the University of Alberta, with guidance from a Community Advisory Committee. The study is grounded in wâhkôtowin, a Cree teaching that emphasizes relationships, respect, and shared responsibility in family and community life. Using this approach, we will interview healthcare providers to learn how they currently manage vaccine consent for First Nations adolescents. We will also hold sharing circles with First Nations adolescents and caregivers to understand their experiences, including what makes consent easier or harder. Together with the Community Advisory Committee, we will develop recommendations to improve consent processes in ways that reflect community priorities and values. This study will provide new, community-informed knowledge to help improve vaccine consent and make the process more culturally appropriate for First Nations adolescents.