# K-12 Educational Resources on Vaccine Biology and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy

> **NIH NIH R25** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2021 · $53,536

## Abstract

Abstract
The goal of this project is to develop innovative educational resources aimed at rural middle school-age
children and medically underserved populations to increase vaccine confidence and encourage vaccine
acceptance by the public. To attain this goal, an interdisciplinary team of scientists and education and
communication specialists has been assembled. This project will undertake three specific aims. Specific
Aim 1 will compile information on vaccine hesitancy (history, reasons for, approaches for overcoming,
and vaccine myths and misconceptions) to help inform information delivery. Specific Aim 2 will produce
age-appropriate materials (high quality brochures and posters, interactive digital media, etc.) to provide
general factual information on vaccine biology, including basic biology (mRNA), basic immunology, and
how vaccines are developed and manufactured. Specific Aim 3 will be directed at innovative packaging
of the factual information produced in Specific Aims 1 and 2, with delivery of this information into rural
schools/regions, including vulnerable populations in South Texas. The newly developed materials will
increase general literacy on immunology and on vaccine research and development, manufacturing, and
testing, with the goal of allaying fears and concerns about vaccines. For example, entertaining but
informative videos and webcasts will be distributed via social media, as public service announcements,
or used in classrooms. In these, a person (undergraduate, graduate or veterinary student) posing as
vaccine hesitant interviews an expert with a script that addresses hesitancy and misconceptions. These
materials will be made available to middle school teachers throughout the USA via the extensive
network already established by the Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health (PEER)
program. TAMU Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) undergraduate students will also disseminate the
educational materials into local rural schools as near- peer communicators. Furthermore, use of social
media will allow PEER to reach audiences around the world. Capitalizing on Rogers’s Diffusion of
Innovations Theory, existing networks between teachers, middle school students, and their families will
be used. Bilingual middle school children will receive information that they can bring back to their
Spanish-speaking parents and other community members.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10400458
- **Project number:** 3R25GM129873-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Julie Harlin
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $53,536
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-08-24 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10400458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10400458, K-12 Educational Resources on Vaccine Biology and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy (3R25GM129873-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10400458. Licensed CC0.

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