A CIHR CATALYST GRANT · 2025—ONGOING
Multisectoral strategies to reach zero-dose and under-immunised children.
École de santé publique de l’Université de Montréal · UNICEF
Each year, nearly 20 million children miss out on the benefits of vaccination. Zero-dose children — those who receive no vaccines through routine services — are among the most marginalised populations in the world, and the deprivations they face rarely come one at a time: families beyond the reach of vaccination often also lack access to clean water, education, civil registration, and social protection.
This project takes a different starting point. Rather than treating immunisation as a standalone health measure, it uses the broad reach of immunisation programmes as a foundation for delivering a comprehensive package of life-saving and developmental services. By addressing multiple deprivations together, multisectoral strategies aim to improve overall child survival and development in underserved communities.
Closing the Equity Gap is a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Partnering for Impact – Catalyst Grant (2025–ONGOING), co-led by the Université de Montréal School of Public Health (ESPUM) and UNICEF, grounded in UNICEF’s global guidance on multisectoral zero-dose strategies.
Two scoping reviews update the international evidence base to inform research design and global policy. Audrey Beaulieu (Université de Montréal) leads a global review of strategies to reach zero-dose children since the launch of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). Joelle Ducharme (Université de Montréal) leads the ARRIVE review, mapping evidence on the integration of immunisation within health services and across sectors.
In India and the Philippines, researchers, UN agencies, governments, and civil-society partners will co-develop country-specific, funding-ready research protocols for multisectoral strategies to reach zero-dose and under-immunised children — a foundation for larger, rigorous intervention studies.
The project works with communities and partners to ensure an inclusive approach, and will evaluate how the research itself is co-produced, generating transferable lessons for equitable and effective research partnerships.
Uttar Pradesh
zero-dose (no DTP1)
under-vaccinated (no DTP3)
Source: WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage, 2024 (released July 2025).
Manila & Taguig
zero-dose (no DTP1)
under-vaccinated (no DTP3)
Source: WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage, 2024 (released July 2025).
Professor Mira Johri
École de santé publique — Project Co-Lead
Dr Ibrahim Dadari
Immunization Specialist — Coverage & Equity, Project Co-Lead
Dr Ashish Chauhan
Immunization Specialist, India Country Office
Dr Zakari Adam
Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Office for Uttar Pradesh
Dr Praful Bharadwaj
Health Officer, UNICEF Office for Uttar Pradesh
Dr Carla Ante Orozco
Philippines Country Office
Dr Alyssa Sharkey
Lecturer, School of Policy and International Affairs, Princeton University
Dr Étienne V. Langlois
Team Lead, Knowledge Synthesis, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), World Health Organization
Dr Andrea Tricco
Scientist and Executive Director, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital; Professor, University of Toronto
Audrey Beaulieu
Doctoral Trainee, École de santé publique, Université de Montréal
Joelle Ducharme
Doctoral Trainee, École de santé publique, Université de Montréal
Dr Fred Carden
Using Evidence Inc.
Dr Hope Johnson
Director of Measurement, Evaluation & Learning, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Project Concern International (PCI India)
Raah Health & Social Development Foundation
To be announced.
Further partners and team members will be added as the project develops.
The Consortium is governed through an Inclusive Steering Group (ISG) that provides project oversight and ensures inclusive governance throughout.
Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).