Congratulations to Tobiloba (Alex) Omotosho, a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Rubee Dev and 2026 recipient of the iCARE Summer Student Scholarship.
June 11, 2026
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Medicine, the scholarship will facilitate international collaboration and mentorship as Mr. Omotosho works with iCARE data. The scholarship includes a $5,000 stipend to work on the following research project.
Influence of COVID-19 vaccine motivators on vaccine intention: a comparative assessment of individuals with and without cardiovascular diseases
Background: Despite cardiovascular diseases (CVD) increasing the likelihood of experiencing severe outcomes and mortality from contracting COVID-19, many remained unvaccinated or partially vaccinated in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The literature reports mixed evidence in the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among people with CVD, attributed to various vaccine motivators.
Purpose: This study aims to examine what COVID-19 vaccine motivators influence vaccine intention and to determine whether these relationships differ between people with and without CVD.
Methods: This will be a secondary data analysis of the International COVID-19 Awareness and Responses Evaluation (iCARE) survey. We propose to use data from the iCARE Convenience Sample (n = 69,653) to address the study objectives. CVD (moderator variable) is operationalized as any disorder affecting the heart or blood vessels. COVID-19 vaccine intention (dependent variable) is operationalized as the likelihood of getting the vaccine, and COVID-19 vaccine motivators (independent variables) are government-initiated measures to modify behaviours towards receiving the vaccine. The bivariate relationships between vaccine intention and vaccine motivators between participants with and without CVD will be assessed using a Chi-square test. Multiple linear regression will be used to determine which motivators act as predictors of vaccine intention in people with CVD versus those without.
Implications: This study has important public health and scientific implications by demonstrating that COVID-19 vaccine motivators may not operate uniformly across populations, but instead vary based on health status such as the presence of CVD. Identifying which government-initiated strategies most strongly predict vaccine intention among individuals with CVD can support the development of targeted, risk-sensitive communication and policy approaches aimed at improving uptake in this high-risk group. Additionally, by clarifying which motivators are most effective overall, the findings can help refine public health interventions to be more efficient and tailored, ultimately contributing to more equitable and effective vaccination strategies during current and future public health emergencies.
