This dissertation examines the socio-behavioral determinants of vaccination and their impacts on public health, using a systems approach that emphasizes the interface between population health research, policy, and practice. First, we identify the facilitators and barriers of parental attitudes and beliefs toward school-located influenza vaccination in the United States. Next, we examine current vaccine sentiment on social media by constructing and analyzing semantic networks of vaccine information online. Finally, we estimate the health benefits, costs, and cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination strategies in Seattle using a dynamic agent-based model. The underlying motivation for this research is to better inform public health policy by leveraging the facilitators and addressing potential barriers against vaccination; by understanding vaccine sentiment to improve health science communication; and by assessing potential vaccination strategies that may provide the greatest gains in health for a given cost in health resources. / PHD / Public health decisions are ultimately left to those in policy, however these decisions are often subjective and rarely informed by data. This dissertation comprises three studies that, individually, examine various public health aspects of vaccination, and collectively, aim to help inform decision makers by bridging the gaps that persist between scientific evidence and the implementation of relevant health policy. First, we identify the facilitators and barriers of parental attitudes and beliefs toward school-located influenza vaccination in the United States. Next, we examine current vaccine sentiment on social media by constructing and analyzing semantic networks of vaccine information online. Finally, we estimate the health benefits, costs, and cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination strategies in Seattle using a dynamic agent-based model. The work presented here demonstrates a systems approach to public health by way of computational modeling and interdisciplinary perspectives that describe vaccination behavior at the intersection of public health research, policy, and practice. The motivation for this research is to better inform public health policy: by leveraging the facilitators and addressing potential barriers against vaccination; by understanding vaccine sentiment to improve health science communication; and by assessing potential vaccination strategies that may provide the greatest gains in health for a given cost in health resources.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/97079 |
| Date | 05 September 2018 |
| Creators | Kang, Gloria Jin |
| Contributors | Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, Eubank, Stephen G., Abbas, Kaja M., Marathe, Madhav Vishnu, Lewis, Bryan L., Kelly, Marcella J. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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