About this Research Topic

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse the substantial gains made in the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases globally. Foremost on the global health agenda is to re-prioritize immunization services to recover vaccine coverage rates and get back on track with the Immunization Agenda 2030. This can be achieved through an improved understanding of the scope of the disruption caused by the pandemic and the application of lessons learned in developing inclusive and resilient immunization systems. It is also evident that the pandemic has led to a substantial shift in the vaccinology landscape, from how policies are formulated and implemented, to how we conduct vaccine research and deliver immunization services. To chart a sustainable way forward and build immunization systems that are resilient in the face of current and future pandemics, recovery efforts will have to be guided by robust evidence generated to suit local contexts.

In this research topic, we aim to present studies focusing on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected vaccine research and immunization services. While the pandemic wrought great devastation, it has also been a catalyst for innovation and advancements in the vaccines and immunization landscape. We, therefore, aim to highlight these advancements. Furthermore, we intend to present studies aimed at improving our limited understanding of how we can draw from the lessons learned during the pandemic to advance the trajectory of vaccine research and delivery of immunization services, particularly in those regions hardest hit by vaccine-preventable diseases. For this purpose, we are interested in studies documenting recovery and strengthening efforts at all levels and across the vaccinology cascade (from vaccine development through to policy formulation and delivery of essential vaccines) aiming to get vaccine coverage and immunization services back on track for those who need them the most.

This research topic seeks to comprehensively address themes on:
• Pandemic prevention and preparedness with a focus on innovations/advancements in the field;
• Equitable access to vaccines and immunization services for previously underserved populations (including but not limited to hard-to-reach / hard-to-vaccinate populations, adolescents, pregnant women, the elderly, and marginalized persons including migrant populations);
• Vaccine confidence, hesitancy, and acceptability;
• Vaccine communication and demand generation;
• Leveraging lessons learned from COVID-19 control efforts to improve the prevention and control of existing and emerging vaccine-preventable diseases;
• Strengthening vaccinology expertise to support the scale-up of immunization programs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries;
• Advancing evidence-informed policy and decision-making for vaccines and immunization services;
• Implementation strategies and integration of immunization programs into primary health care systems;
• Implementation outcomes, barriers, and drivers of immunization programs;
• The economics of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccines, and immunization services.

Keywords: Vaccine, vaccine preventable diseases, immunization, COVID-19, pandemic

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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