Dalla Lana School of Public Health

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• The Global Implementation Science Seminar Series with Dr. Li Wang RSVP

This event is hosted by the Global Implementation Science Lab (GISL) Seminar Series. The GISL strives to be the focal point for implementation science research globally. The GISL contributes to the body of knowledge in implementation science with applications that address important health policy issues especially in low- and middle- income countries. The seminar series is one of our key forums for knowledge sharing, training and networking. Seminars are held randomly, with each featuring a new guest speaker and topic. Seminars are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Join the GISL Seminar Series on October 11th 2024 at 12pm EST.
Talk title: Understanding the Practices and Perceptions of Chinese Elderly towards Vaccination in the Context of COVID-19: A Qualitative Study in Anhui Province

Speaker: Dr. Li Wang from Anhui Medical University, China
Date/Time: October 11th, 2024 12 PM – 1 PM
Location: Health Science Building Room 507
Registration here: https://forms.gle/dqMK8nc2gYTmAYam8

Talk Introduction
Senior citizens are at a higher risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) due to age-related changes in their immune systems and increased exposure to infectious agents. Vaccinations can help the elderly reduce the risk of VPDs, as well as complications, hospitalizations, and death. Globally, the vaccination rate among rural elderly populations is generally lower than that in urban areas. The present study aims to explore and understand the practices and perceptions of Chinese elderly in rural areas towards vaccination in the context of COVID-19.

Four graduate students from the School of Health Services Management, at Anhui Medical University (AMU), recruited a total of 13 older adults aged 60 years or older from their hometown villages and conducted two rounds of in-depth qualitative interviews. The focus was on influenza, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. To avoid being constrained by a purely public health theoretical framework, the qualitative interviews incorporated a sociological perspective. Qualitative data were analyzed using grounded theory and an attempt was made to construct the conceptual frameworks.

The speaker is Dr. Li Wang is an Associate Professor at the School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, China, and is currently a Visiting Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), University of Toronto, under the supervision of Professor Xiaolin Wei, a public health specialist and professor at DLSPH. In recent years, Li Wang is mainly focusing on research about vaccine hesitancy, and has around 20 peer-reviewed publications in this field.