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By Femi Adebayo
Nigerian-born data scientist Abdulazeez Alabi has released a landmark study analyzing disparities in adolescent vaccination across the United States, offering data-driven strategies to improve public health challenges.
Drawing from the 2021 National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen), Alabi’s research highlights how factors such as household income, parental education, and geographic location influence vaccination rates among teens aged 13 to 17. The findings are compiled in his newly published book, SAS Programming and Data Analysis: National Vaccination Coverage Estimates of Adolescents.
“This study aims to inform targeted vaccination approaches that improve accessibility and health equity,” Alabi told The Sun. “Data analysis gives us the power to address complex health challenges with precision.”
Alabi, who holds a master’s degree in Statistics from Georgia State University, is a certified data Scientist and Graduate Statistician (GStat) member with the American Statistical Association. He is also a Certified Management Consultant and active member of several professional bodies, including the American Mathematical Society, Association for Computing Machinery, and the International Society for Data Science and Analytics.
His research reveals that adolescents in rural or low-income communities are significantly less likely to receive timely vaccinations. Alabi calls for targeted, data-informed public health interventions to close these gaps.
“It’s not just about increasing vaccination rates,” he said. “It’s about reaching underserved populations in ways that are tailored and effective.”
The report advocates for “precision public health”, using data to guide targeted vaccination efforts, especially in underserved communities. “It’s not just about increasing numbers but about reaching the right people in the right way,” Alabi said.
By integrating demographic analysis with health strategy, the report offers actionable insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals. Alabi’s work is expected to inform national conversations around vaccine equity and adolescent health planning.
“This is more than research, it’s a call to action,” he added. “We must use data not just to describe public health challenges, but to solve them.”
