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Vaccines
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Vaccination and Public Health Strategy
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Vaccination and Public Health Strategy

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 6628

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shenglan Tang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
2. Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, No. 8 Duke Avenue, Kunshan 215316, China
3. SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS (National University of Singapore), Singapore 119077, Singapore
Interests: health policy and systems; infectious diseases; implementation science; monitoring and evaluation
Dr. Lance E. Rodewald

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
Interests: pediatrics; immunization programs; implementation science
Dr. Taufique Joarder

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS (National University of Singapore), Singapore 119077, Singapore
Interests: health policy and systems research; health workforce; implementation science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Immunization is one of the most cost-effective health interventions. It prevents 3.5–5 million deaths and saves 2–3 million children from vaccine-preventable diseases every year. Ensuring the effective and sustainable implementation of all national immunization programs is crucial in order to achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030 vision of a “world where everyone, everywhere, at all ages fully benefits from vaccines for good health and well-being”.

We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, and case studies that examine the challenges associated with introducing new vaccines, guided by the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), and welcome innovative approaches to financing and managing national immunization programs, including innovative interventions that facilitate equitable access to vaccines. Manuscripts that discuss national strategies for vaccine procurement, supply chain management, and public–private partnerships that promote the sustainability of immunization are particularly encouraged.

This Special Issue provides an excellent opportunity for researchers and health professionals to share insights regarding the provision of sustainable and equitable immunization programs worldwide. We look forward to receiving contributions that advance knowledge regarding vaccination and the strengthening of the health system in developing countries.

Dr. Shenglan Tang
Dr. Lance E. Rodewald
Dr. Taufique Joarder
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • immunization Agenda 2030
  • vaccine equity
  • new vaccines introduction
  • sustainable immunization and financing
  • sustainable vaccine supply and procurement

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 706 KB  
Article
Challenges in Expanding Access to the HPV Vaccine Among Schooling Girls: A Mixed-Methods Study from Indonesia
by Jacqueline Yap, Fauzi Budi Satria, Ivana Alona, Indo Mora Siregar, Shu Chen, Chee Fu Yung, Courtney Davis, Inke Nadia Diniyanti Lubis and Shenglan Tang
Vaccines 2025, 13(9), 948; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090948 - 4 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1293
Abstract
Background: Indonesia launched a nationwide school-based HPV immunization program in August 2023. Despite this, regional disparities in vaccine uptake persist. Therefore, we undertook a study in North Sumatra Province to assess HPV vaccination coverage and analyze the main factors affecting the uptake of [...] Read more.
Background: Indonesia launched a nationwide school-based HPV immunization program in August 2023. Despite this, regional disparities in vaccine uptake persist. Therefore, we undertook a study in North Sumatra Province to assess HPV vaccination coverage and analyze the main factors affecting the uptake of HPV vaccination. Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach and was carried out in Medan and Deli Serdang of North Sumatra Province. Quantitative data were used to examine HPV coverage rates among school-aged girls in 2024, while qualitative interviews with parents, teachers, and health officers explored administrative, social, and behavioral barriers and facilitators. Results: In 2024, HPV vaccine coverage in Deli Serdang reached 62.09%, while Kota Medan lagged behind at just 27.20%. High-coverage schools in the Galang subdistrict benefited from proactive engagement between Puskesmas (community health clinics) and parents. In contrast, lower-coverage areas experienced logistical and communication challenges. Parents expressed a preference for face-to-face communication over written consent forms and emphasized the importance of clear, empathetic messaging. Conclusions: The stark contrast in coverage—particularly the low uptake in urban Kota Medan—highlights the need for more responsive and localized implementation strategies. Strengthening direct communication, addressing administrative inefficiencies, and fostering trust through tailored community engagement are critical. These findings suggest a need for targeted improvements in urban settings and further research across diverse regions to inform policy development and strategies for improved coverage of HPV vaccinations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination and Public Health Strategy)
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14 pages, 555 KB  
Article
Trust in Information Sources and Parents’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of Children’s PCV13 Vaccination in the Yangtze River Delta Region, China
by Zhangyang Pan, Fan Liang and Shenglan Tang
Vaccines 2025, 13(9), 947; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090947 - 4 Sep 2025
Viewed by 681
Abstract
Background: Trust in information sources is essential to enhance an individual’s understanding of the message and boost their willingness to change or act on specific health behavior, including vaccine uptake. This study explores the association between trust in information sources and parents’ knowledge, [...] Read more.
Background: Trust in information sources is essential to enhance an individual’s understanding of the message and boost their willingness to change or act on specific health behavior, including vaccine uptake. This study explores the association between trust in information sources and parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding their children’s 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) uptake across seven cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in China. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from May to June 2023. Adult parents (N = 1304) who had at least one child aged 24 months or less and lived in the YRD region were recruited. The Adjusted Ordinary Least Squares (OLSs) regression model was applied to estimate the association between participants’ level of trust in different information sources and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices of children’s PCV13 vaccination. Results: Information from the Disease Control and Prevention Center (CDC) source received the highest trust score. Age, gender, education, and annual household income were related to varied trust levels in specific sources. Trust in the health service provider source was significantly associated with a better command of PCV13 knowledge, acceptance of PCV13, and a higher likelihood of vaccination. Trust in online community sources was positively associated with vaccine uptake. Conclusions: The study participants highly trusted information from health service provider sources. These sources may be effective channels with potential to enhance parents’ vaccine knowledge and acceptance of PCV13. Public health workers could utilize trusted sources to disseminate the benefits of the PCV13 and encourage the uptake of the vaccine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination and Public Health Strategy)
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14 pages, 3025 KB  
Article
Bridging the Gap: Two Decades of Childhood Vaccination Coverage and Equity in Cambodia and the Philippines (2000–2022)
by Yanqin Zhang, Xinyu Zhang and Qian Long
Vaccines 2025, 13(9), 907; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090907 - 27 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1041
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Equitable access to childhood vaccines remains a challenge in many low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed coverage of WHO-recommended childhood vaccines in Cambodia and the Philippines, focusing on urban–rural and wealth disparities, and examined maternal demographic and socioeconomic factors influencing vaccination [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Equitable access to childhood vaccines remains a challenge in many low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed coverage of WHO-recommended childhood vaccines in Cambodia and the Philippines, focusing on urban–rural and wealth disparities, and examined maternal demographic and socioeconomic factors influencing vaccination coverage. Methods: Cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys from Cambodia (2000–2021/22) and the Philippines (2003–2022) were used. Descriptive analyses were performed to elucidate vaccination coverage trends (BCG, hepatitis B birth dose, DTP, OPV, PCV, and measles). Urban–rural and wealth-related disparities were assessed by calculating absolute differences and Slope Index of Inequality. Logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of maternal demographics and socioeconomic status on vaccination coverage. Results: Cambodia showed significant increases in BCG, DTP, and OPV coverage over the past two decades, whereas those coverage in the Philippines declined slightly since 2017. In 2022, 75.2% of Filipino children received the BCG and hepatitis B (birth dose) vaccines, and around two-thirds completed DTP, OPV, and PCV vaccinations on schedule, lower than the rates in Cambodia. Only half of the children completed measles vaccination in both countries. Urban–rural disparities declined over time in both countries, but wealth inequalities persisted and widened in the Philippines between 2017 and 2022. Women with higher education attainment, from a wealthy household and having fewer children, was associated with increased likelihood of completing childhood vaccinations in both countries. Conclusions: Persistent socioeconomic disparities in childhood vaccination in low- and middle-income countries highlight the need for targeted pro-poor and community-based strategies to ensure equitable access. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination and Public Health Strategy)
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26 pages, 1663 KB  
Systematic Review
Strategies, Barriers, and Facilitators for Healthcare Professionals to Recommend HPV Vaccination: A Systematic Review
by Yihan Fu, Yinqi He, Zhitao Wang and Jing Sun
Vaccines 2025, 13(4), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13040402 - 12 Apr 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2336
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The HPV vaccine has demonstrated efficacy in preventing approximately 90% of HPV infection-associated cancers. However, the global HPV vaccination coverage rate remains low. Healthcare professionals are trusted sources of information on vaccination. Enhancing their capacities to deliver credible information through appropriate [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The HPV vaccine has demonstrated efficacy in preventing approximately 90% of HPV infection-associated cancers. However, the global HPV vaccination coverage rate remains low. Healthcare professionals are trusted sources of information on vaccination. Enhancing their capacities to deliver credible information through appropriate strategies to support HPV vaccination decisions can help increase vaccination coverage. There is a gap in the comprehensive summary of the strategies, barriers, and facilitators for healthcare professionals to recommend HPV vaccination. Methods: This review systematically evaluated the existing literature on healthcare professionals’ strategies to recommend HPV vaccination worldwide, along with the barriers and facilitators. Results: A total of 96 original research articles were included in the analysis, comprising 25 qualitative studies, 67 cross-sectional quantitative studies, and four mixed-methods studies. Healthcare professionals typically recommend HPV vaccination by proactively sharing relevant information and emphasizing the benefits and necessity of vaccination. Although personalized and de-sexualized communication strategies may enable easier recommendation, these are often time-consuming and require a stronger level of knowledge and communication skills. The major barriers reported by Chinese healthcare professionals included concerns about the safety of the HPV vaccine and doubts regarding the necessity of HPV vaccination. In contrast, the main obstacles in other countries were limited working time and a lack of parental support. Conclusions: Enhancing external policy support and professional training for healthcare professionals is critical to improving healthcare provider willingness and the use of strategies to recommend HPV vaccination. Taking action to incorporate the HPV vaccine into the National Immunization Program is an essential pathway for expanding HPV vaccination coverage, narrowing disparities, and progressing towards the elimination of cervical cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination and Public Health Strategy)
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