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Vaccines
Special Issues
Studies of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Vaccination
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Studies of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Vaccination

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology and Vaccination".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 5780

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jose Gonzales-Zamora

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
Interests: public health; HIV; hepatitis C; global medicine; vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Shweta Anjan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Transplant Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
Interests: transplant infectious diseases; COVID-19 research trials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vaccines are considered one of the most important tools to prevent and control transmissible diseases. Their implementation has led to a significant decrease in the morbidity and mortality of many infectious illnesses. In addition, vaccines’ ability to limit the spread of infections has turned them into a highly important and cost-effective intervention in public health. It is crucial to understand the interactions between vaccination and the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases in order to maximize the benefits of vaccines in high-risk populations, all of which is known as vaccine epidemiology. The study of this field involves choosing vaccines for inclusion in public health programs, determining vaccination strategies, monitoring vaccine performance, and measuring the progress and impact of vaccination strategies. It also facilitates the identification of age groups and populations at risk that could benefit the most from mass vaccination campaigns.

This Special Issue focuses on studies addressing all aspects of vaccine epidemiology, from the evaluation of disease burden to the implementation and evaluation of vaccine policies. We welcome original research articles and systematic or narrative reviews. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jose Gonzales-Zamora
Dr. Shweta Anjan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Vaccines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vaccine effectiveness
  • vaccination policies
  • cost-effectiveness
  • surveillance
  • public health
  • high-risk population
  • infectious diseases

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 950 KB  
Article
Genomic Surveillance Reveals Vaccine-Associated Shifts in Pediatric Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae in Tunisia
by Samar Mhimdi, Khaoula Meftah, Ala-Eddine Deghmane, Yasmine Chelbi, Aida Bouafsoun, Muhamed-Kheir Taha and Hanen Smaoui
Vaccines 2026, 14(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14010027 - 25 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1323
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) remains a leading cause of invasive bacterial disease in children worldwide. In Tunisia, the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) was introduced into the national immunization program in 2019 for children under two years of age. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) remains a leading cause of invasive bacterial disease in children worldwide. In Tunisia, the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) was introduced into the national immunization program in 2019 for children under two years of age. This study aimed to assess molecular epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine impact on pediatric invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) before and after PCV10 introduction. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital (Tunis, Tunisia) between 2016 and 2022. IPD isolates were characterized by multiplex PCR, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequencing. Serotyping was performed using three approaches: multiplex PCR, SeroBA, and a novel cpsB gene-based algorithm. Genomic diversity and population structure were analyzed through molecular typing approaches. Incidence trends were calculated using national population data. Results: Among 150 confirmed IPD isolates, vaccine-type (VT-PCV10) strains decreased significantly from 69.8% before to 47.2% after vaccine introduction (p = 0.013), with serotype 14 showing the largest decline. Genomic analysis identified 43 sequence types and 27 global pneumococcal sequence clusters, reflecting high genetic heterogeneity. The cpsB approach demonstrated strong concordance with PCR (κ = 0.67) and SeroBA (κ = 0.85). The mean annual incidence of VT disease in children aged 0–4 years declined from 1.28 to 0.86 cases per 100,000 population, while non-vaccine serotypes showed a modest increase. Conclusions: PCV10 introduction was associated with a marked reduction in vaccine-type IPD among young children, supporting its public health benefit. Ongoing genomic surveillance remains essential to monitor serotype replacement and antimicrobial resistance in Tunisia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Vaccination)
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19 pages, 1125 KB  
Article
Finding the Sweet Spot: Preferences for Effectiveness, Duration, and Side Effects in a Discrete Choice Experiment Among Uganda’s Key Populations
by Maiya G. Block Ngaybe, Richard Muhumuza, Mélanie Antunes, Ezra Musingye, Kawoya Kijali Joseph, Betty Nakaggwa, Stephen Mugamba, Bashir Ssuna, Gabriela Valdez, John Ehiri, Maia Ingram, Agnes Kiragga, Grace Mirembe, Betty Mwesigwa, Hannah Kibuuka and Purnima Madhivanan
Vaccines 2025, 13(11), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13111090 - 24 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1206
Abstract
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects more than 39 million people worldwide, with Uganda ranked 10th among countries with the highest number of cases. As new preventative HIV injectables emerge, it is vital to think about how best to tailor strategies to promote [...] Read more.
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects more than 39 million people worldwide, with Uganda ranked 10th among countries with the highest number of cases. As new preventative HIV injectables emerge, it is vital to think about how best to tailor strategies to promote these injectable drugs, like PrEP and vaccines, when available, to the different populations most in need. Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are economics-derived methods used to determine factors that influence engagement in a certain behavior. Objective: This study used a DCE to determine the preferences for a preventative HIV injectable drugs/vaccines among people at risk of HIV acquisition in urban and peri-urban areas of Uganda. Methods: In June 2024, we implemented a cross-sectional DCE survey in three urban sites in Uganda in English and Luganda. The survey collected information on demographics, HIV risk, vaccine confidence and responses to the 13 injection product choice tasks presented to determine preferences. We used community-based, respondent-driven sampling methods to recruit participants from three key populations: (1) female sex workers; (2) people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender; and (3) young women (18–24 years). We collected the data on tablets using the Sawtooth Lighthouse Studio software (v. 19.15.6), taking into consideration privacy and confidentiality, given the sensitivity of the information and recent governmental policies in Uganda. Data were analyzed using a split-sample mixed logit regression analysis. The study was approved by local ethical regulatory bodies. Results: From the total of 406 participants screened for this study, 376 participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis (85 young women, 159 female sex workers, and 132 who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender). The average age was 23.7 (SD: 5.7). The majority of participants had received some secondary school or vocational school (202, 53.7%) The attributes that explained the preferences were primarily severe compared to mild side effects (β: −0.69, 95% CI: −0.78, −0.60), a 30% increase in vaccine/drug effectiveness (β: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.44), and a 50,000 UGX (or USD ~13.64) increase in cost (β: −0.22, 95% CI: −0.27, −0.17). There were no significant differences between the preferences for different injectable types. The sensitivity analyses suggested potential differences in preferences by the amount of help participants received from research assistants when completing the survey, although not by income level. Conclusions: Side effects had the greatest impact on participants’ preferences for injectable HIV prevention methods, followed closely by effectiveness and cost. It is therefore essential to develop affordable or free prevention options with minimal side effects. Policymakers should focus on reducing the financial barriers to access and emphasize transparent communication about the effectiveness and safety of these injectables in health promotion campaigns to maximize adoption and improve public health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Vaccination)
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17 pages, 1570 KB  
Article
The Burden of Pertussis Disease and Vaccination Coverage in Australian Adults Attending Primary Health Care
by Aye M. Moa, Juan C. Vargas-Zambrano, Hubert Maruszak, Valentina Costantino and C Raina MacIntyre
Vaccines 2025, 13(10), 1029; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13101029 - 2 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2226
Abstract
Background: The reported incidence of pertussis, a vaccine-preventable disease, has been increasing in recent years. This study aimed to estimate the burden of pertussis and the vaccination rate in Australian adults in primary care. Methods: Deidentified data for participants aged ≥18 years were [...] Read more.
Background: The reported incidence of pertussis, a vaccine-preventable disease, has been increasing in recent years. This study aimed to estimate the burden of pertussis and the vaccination rate in Australian adults in primary care. Methods: Deidentified data for participants aged ≥18 years were extracted from the MedicalDirector (MD) primary care software from 2008 to 2019. We estimated the cumulative incidence of diagnosed pertussis in adults by age and risk groups and vaccine coverage in cases and a control group (not diagnosed with pertussis or a coughing illness). We also examined the incidence of unspecified coughing illness in the study population. Results: Of the 764,864 subjects included in the study, 1788 (0.2%) were diagnosed with pertussis between 2008 and 2019, corresponding to an average annual diagnosis rate of 76.9 per 100,000 population. About 31,110 (4.1%) of adults had an unspecified coughing illness. The highest rate was observed in 2011 and higher in females (63.3%), and the diagnosis rate was stable across all age groups. Underlying chronic conditions were more prevalent among pertussis cases than controls (58.7% vs. 18.8%), with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) being the most common. Overall, 14% of cases received a pertussis vaccination during the study period. Diagnostic testing for pertussis was performed in 34.1% of pertussis cases. Estimated conservative costs per pertussis patient ranged from AUD 473 to AUD 909, with higher costs observed in individuals with complications. Conclusions: In the outpatient setting, there was a notable burden of pertussis among adults under 65 years of age, particularly those with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma and COPD, which appear to be significant risk factors. Due to the low rate of pertussis testing among all coughing illnesses, a proportion of non-specific coughing illness may be undiagnosed pertussis. The observed low vaccination rates highlight a need for increased awareness, improved diagnostic efforts, and prevention strategies in primary care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Vaccination)
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