Sanofi Pasteur is making $100,000 available to bring to life innovative ideas designed to improve the uptake of vaccines in Australian communities with low immunisation rates.
The company is inviting submissions for its Vaxigrants program to Australian immunisation providers, who are encouraged to share their unique and replicable ideas to receive one of four $25,000 grants.
Now in its fifth year, Sanofi Pasteur said Vaxigrants offer healthcare professionals a chance to make a difference in their communities, while increasing wider awareness of the importance of immunisation in protecting against diseases.
Sanofi Pasteur General Manager, Russell Jacobson, is calling on Australians working in the area of vaccination to submit innovative and practical solutions to the challenges facing vaccination uptake within specific and broader communities.
“Vaxigrants will be awarded to ideas that can make real and lasting change in communities that might not be experiencing the full health benefits of vaccinations,” said Mr Jacobson.
“While Australia has high rates of vaccination we still see some communities with low immunisation rates. We’re interested in hearing ideas from the industry on how to create a broader understanding of the benefits of immunisation.”
Immunologist Professor Robert Booy, and Vaxigrants judge, is encouraging Australian healthcare professionals to share their ideas to help tackle existing challenges to vaccine uptake.
“Healthcare professionals know, better than anyone, the challenges to vaccination. Vaxigrants support healthcare professionals to create viable and lasting solutions to these challenges and obstacles,” said Professor Booy.
Past Vaxigrants recipients have included a Mobile GP in Western Australia for its 'Get Ready for Winter' campaign to deliver free flu vaccinations to homeless and disadvantaged groups at ten mobile clinics around Perth.
The company is calling for healthcare professionals to submit their solutions for improving vaccination coverage rates in one or more of the following patient groups:
- challenging to access (Indigenous, out-of-home care children, refugees, asylum seekers);
- travelling overseas and intending to visit friends and relatives, and/or travelling for business purposes;
- those with underlying medical conditions (diabetes, asthma); and,
- vaccine hesitant populations.
Sanofi Pasteur said it is also encouraging submissions for innovative immunisation ideas unspecified in the outlined categories.
Vaxigrants entries opened on 8 June and close on 8 August 2016. Visit the website to apply for a Vaxigrant.