Lay summary
Vaccination is a key public health care intervention used to prevent infectious disease and more recently, to treat chronic conditions such as cancer. For vaccines to realise health benefits, people must have the confidence and willingness to be vaccinated and the ability to access vaccine delivery services. In Aotearoa it is imperative we increase vaccination rates especially in groups with lower vaccine coverage. Our research aims to minimise access and engagement immunisation barriers and enhance vaccination acceptance. We will develop and evaluate oral vaccines, taken as a capsule, which will be simple and safe to self-administer. Working in partnership with Māori and Pacific researchers and healthcare providers we will develop culturally appropriate vaccination strategies and resources, creating whānau-centred solutions to vaccination barriers. Both approaches will aid reducing the vaccination inequities that exist in Aotearoa and make a real impact on health equity in the prevention and treatment of disease.