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Vaccines
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Promoting Research, Development and Access to Vaccines to Address Global...
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Promoting Research, Development and Access to Vaccines to Address Global Inequities

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2989

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yangmu Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Interests: development assistance for health; global health governance; R&D and access to global public goods; nutrition and food security; health emergency

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vaccines are a highly effective public health measure for promoting population health. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, monkeypox, and other global public health emergencies have highlighted serious global inequality in the development and accessibility of vaccines, particularly in disadvantaged settings. It is essential to address these issues by understanding the current situation, analyzing its reasons, and exploring potential solutions.

We invite original research articles and reviews on a wide range of topics related to global vaccine equity issues, including routine and emergency vaccines for all age groups. This includes, but is not limited to, vaccine hesitancy, vaccination promotion interventions, relevant economic evaluations, and vaccination for vulnerable populations. We are eagerly looking forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Yangmu Huang
Guest Editor

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

  • research and development
  • communicable diseases
  • vulnerable population
  • medical countermeasures
  • vaccine-preventable diseases
  • innovative vaccines
  • vaccine hesitancy
  • health education
  • vaccination coverage rates
  • vaccination strategies

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

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13 pages, 387 KiB  
Article
Estimating the Public Health and Economic Impact of Annual mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination for Adults Aged 50 and Older in South Korea’s Endemic Era
by Jaehee Jung, Dain Lee, Hee-Do Yang, Ah-Young Kim, Haeun Lee, Minkyoung Kang, Ekkehard Beck, Keya Joshi, Youngju Kang and Hye-Young Kang
Vaccines 2025, 13(4), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13040386 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 630
Abstract
Background/Objectives: COVID-19 continues to challenge public health due to emerging variants. To mitigate this, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) recommends annual COVID-19 vaccination, but uptake remains suboptimal. This study evaluates the public health and economic impact of annual mRNA COVID-19 [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: COVID-19 continues to challenge public health due to emerging variants. To mitigate this, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) recommends annual COVID-19 vaccination, but uptake remains suboptimal. This study evaluates the public health and economic impact of annual mRNA COVID-19 vaccination for adults aged 50 and older in South Korea during the 2024–2025 season, focusing on hospitalizations and costs. Methods: We estimated hospitalizations prevented by the mRNA-1273 XBB.1.5 containing vaccine by calculating symptomatic infection incidence rates, hospitalization rates among unvaccinated individuals, vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalization, and vaccination rates. Incidence rates among the unvaccinated with an annual vaccine were derived by adjusting overall infection rates based on vaccination coverage and VE against COVID-19 hospitalization rates. Hospitalization costs were obtained from a real-world dataset, integrating the KDCA’s COVID-19 confirmed cases with National Health Insurance claims data. Comparative analyses between mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 used published meta-analysis results. Results: Assuming vaccination rates remain consistent with the 2023–2024 season, mRNA-1273 is projected to prevent 37,200 hospitalizations and save USD 77.2 million in healthcare costs during the 2024–2025 season compared to no annual vaccination. Compared to BNT162b2, it is expected to prevent an additional 13,260 hospitalizations saving USD 27.5 million. If vaccination rates increased to match influenza, hospitalizations prevented by mRNA-1273 could rise to 79,800 with USD 164.2 million in healthcare savings compared to no annual vaccination. Conclusion: Annual mRNA COVID-19 vaccination with mRNA-1273 substantially reduces hospitalizations and healthcare costs. Increasing vaccination rates are essential to maximize public health benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Research, Development and Access to Vaccines to Address Global Inequities)
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13 pages, 1995 KiB  
Conference Report
Investment Opportunities for mRNA Technology in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Key Findings and Future Perspectives
by Ariane de Jesus Lopes de Abreu, Cheleka A. M. Mpande, Matthias Helble, Martin W. Nicholson, María de los Ángeles Cortés, María Eugenia Pérez Ponsa, Ivan Redini Blumenthal, Francisco Caccavo, Tomas Pippo, Judit Rius Sanjuan and Claudia Nannei
Vaccines 2025, 13(2), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13020112 - 23 Jan 2025
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Abstract
In April 2024, a hybrid meeting organized by the WHO, PAHO, and MPP during the World Bank Spring Meetings focused on financing mRNA-based technologies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This meeting sought to engage multilateral development banks (MDBs) and stakeholders in financing [...] Read more.
In April 2024, a hybrid meeting organized by the WHO, PAHO, and MPP during the World Bank Spring Meetings focused on financing mRNA-based technologies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This meeting sought to engage multilateral development banks (MDBs) and stakeholders in financing the expansion of vaccine production and enhancing pandemic preparedness. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the disparities in vaccine production and distribution, highlighting the need for localized production to improve global health equity. The WHO’s mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, initiated in 2021, aims to build local capacity for mRNA vaccine development and manufacturing. Key sessions covered during the meeting include innovative investment models, with MDBs discussing funding instruments and the necessity of an integrated ecosystem for sustainable vaccine manufacturing. Challenges such as technological risks and the need for higher risk appetite were addressed, along with innovative financing mechanisms like blended financing. An analysis of capital and operational expenditures for mRNA vaccine facilities was presented, projecting significant production capacity in LMICs within a decade. Panelists emphasized the need for sustainable R&D investment and shared experiences in securing funding for mRNA technology. The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration, innovative financing, ecosystem development, and public–private partnerships, marking a pivotal step towards advancing mRNA technology in LMICs to tackle global health challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Research, Development and Access to Vaccines to Address Global Inequities)
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