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Vaccines
Special Issues
Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunization
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Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunization

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 2428

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vana Spoulou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Interests: infectious diseases; vaccines; vaccine-induced immune response; immunological memory
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ioanna Papadatou

E-Mail
Guest Editor
School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Interests: infectious diseases; vaccines; vaccine-induced immune response; immunological memory

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite the great success of vaccines, infectious diseases continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality in children, especially in the very young and those with comorbidities, primary or secondary immunodeficiency. In recent years, advances in immunology, molecular diagnostics, and vaccine technologies have transformed our understanding of pediatric host–pathogen interactions and have opened new opportunities for disease prevention. At the same time, evolving epidemiology, emerging pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and challenges in vaccine confidence highlight the need for continuous research and updated evidence to guide clinical and public health practice.

This Special Issue of Vaccines, “Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunization”, aims to bring together high-quality original research, systematic reviews, and expert perspectives that advance our knowledge in this rapidly developing field. We welcome submissions addressing the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pediatric infections; vaccine-induced immunity; innovative vaccine platforms, as well as immunization strategies for special pediatric populations.

We invite clinicians, researchers, and public health professionals to contribute their latest findings and insights and we look forward to your valuable contributions.

Dr. Vana Spoulou
Dr. Ioanna Papadatou
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

  • vaccines
  • pediatric infectious diseases
  • vaccine immunology
  • pediatric vaccines

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

16 pages, 315 KB  
Review
Prevention of Respiratory Infections in Children with Congenital Heart Disease: Current Evidence and Clinical Strategies
by Susanna Esposito, Camilla Aurelio, Marina Cifaldi, Angela Lazzara, Federico Viafora and Nicola Principi
Vaccines 2026, 14(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14010011 - 22 Dec 2025
Viewed by 2004
Abstract
Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at substantially increased risk for respiratory infections, which occur more frequently and with greater severity than in healthy peers. This heightened vulnerability stems from multifactorial immune impairment, including defects in innate and adaptive immunity, chronic [...] Read more.
Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at substantially increased risk for respiratory infections, which occur more frequently and with greater severity than in healthy peers. This heightened vulnerability stems from multifactorial immune impairment, including defects in innate and adaptive immunity, chronic inflammation related to abnormal hemodynamics and hypoxia, reduced thymic function, and genetic syndromes affecting both cardiac and immune development. Viral pathogens—particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses, and SARS-CoV-2—account for most infections, although bacterial pathogens remain relevant, especially in postoperative settings. Methods: This narrative review summarizes current evidence on infection susceptibility in children with CHD, the epidemiology and clinical relevance of major respiratory pathogens, and the effectiveness of available preventive measures. Literature evaluating immunological mechanisms, infection burden, vaccine effectiveness, and passive immunization strategies was examined, along with existing national and international immunization guidelines. Results: Children with CHD consistently exhibit higher rates of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and mortality following respiratory infections. RSV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 infections are particularly severe in this population, while bacterial infections, though less common, contribute substantially to postoperative morbidity. Preventive options—including routine childhood vaccines, pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines, influenza vaccines, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, and RSV monoclonal antibodies—demonstrate strong protective effects. New long-acting RSV monoclonal antibodies and maternal vaccination markedly enhance prevention in early infancy. However, vaccine coverage remains insufficient due to parental hesitancy, provider uncertainty, delayed immunization, and limited CHD-specific evidence. Conclusions: Respiratory infections pose a significant and preventable health burden in children with CHD. Enhancing the use of both active and passive immunization is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Strengthening evidence-based guidelines, improving coordination between specialists and primary care providers, integrating immunization checks into routine CHD management, and providing clear, condition-specific counseling to families can substantially improve vaccine uptake and clinical outcomes in this vulnerable population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunization)
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