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Vaccines
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Communicable Diseases: New and Old Therapies and Preventive Strategies, 2nd...
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Communicable Diseases: New and Old Therapies and Preventive Strategies, 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 26 February 2027 | Viewed by 8032

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cristina Genovese

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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
Interests: population health management; vaccination; vaccine hesitancy; health behavior and vaccination; health communication in vaccination campaigns
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Calimeri Sebastiano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical, Dental and Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, Messina, Italy
Interests: vaccination; infectious disease; public health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniela Lo Giudice

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical, Dental and Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, Messina, Italy
Interests: vaccination; infectious disease; public health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vincenza La Fauci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
Interests: vaccination; infectious disease; public health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vincenza Gianfredi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Interests: vaccine; hesitancy; public health; systematic reviews; meta-analysis; epidemiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence of new pathogens requires the ongoing development of preventive and therapeutic strategies. Additionally, the increasing concern surrounding antimicrobial resistance necessitates innovative methods and tools to combat the spread of established pathogens. We invite contributions to this Special Issue, which aims at publishing articles focused on new preventive strategies and therapies while discussing the challenges and benefits of existing approaches. We welcome original research articles, commentaries, research protocols, and reviews. Research topics may include the development of new vaccines or therapies, the efficacy of novel preventive strategies, and the current gaps in available therapies and preventive measures.

Dr. Cristina Genovese
Dr. Calimeri Sebastiano
Dr. Daniela Lo Giudice
Dr. Vincenza La Fauci
Dr. Vincenza Gianfredi
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
  • therapies
  • communicable 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

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11 pages, 245 KB  
Article
Measles Seroprevalence Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Central Greece, 2017
by Eirini Karnava, Marios Politis, Efthymia Petinaki, Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis, Christos Hadjichristodoulou and Georgios Rachiotis
Vaccines 2026, 14(5), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14050379 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 300
Abstract
Background: Measles remains a significant occupational hazard in healthcare settings. In the context of the 2017–2018 measles outbreak in Greece and amid an outbreak at the study hospital, this seroprevalence study aimed to identify gaps in measles serologic status among healthcare workers in [...] Read more.
Background: Measles remains a significant occupational hazard in healthcare settings. In the context of the 2017–2018 measles outbreak in Greece and amid an outbreak at the study hospital, this seroprevalence study aimed to identify gaps in measles serologic status among healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in central Greece. Methods: We conducted a seroprevalence study among hospital employees between February and December 2017. Blood samples and data on sociodemographic and work-related characteristics were collected from a convenience sample of participants. Measles IgG and IgM antibodies were measured using the ELISA method to determine seropositivity. The 95% CIs for measles IgG seronegativity proportions were calculated using the Clopper–Pearson exact method. Associations between participant characteristics and measles antibody status were assessed using Firth’s penalized logistic regression models. Results: A total of 336 healthcare workers participated in the study (response rate: 24.9%). Overall, 5.4% (95% CI: 3.2–8.3) tested negative for measles IgG antibodies. No significant associations were observed between participants’ characteristics and measles IgG antibody status. Male participants had 15.8 times higher adjusted odds of testing positive for measles IgM antibodies compared with female participants (aOR: 15.8; 95% CI: 2.33–107.54; p = 0.005). Conclusions: Our results indicate a low—but not negligible—proportion of IgG measles seronegativity among participants. The detection of seronegative individuals born prior to 1970 challenges the assumption of universal natural immunity based solely on year of birth. Given the recent rise in measles outbreaks and the limited seroprevalence data among healthcare workers in Greece, these findings provide valuable data to support ongoing efforts to achieve full vaccination coverage in this group. Further research is warranted to investigate the observed sex differences in susceptibility to measles infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communicable Diseases: New and Old Therapies and Preventive Strategies, 2nd Edition)

Review

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18 pages, 319 KB  
Review
Health Technology Assessment of mRNA Vaccines: Clinical, Economic, and Public Health Implications
by Giovanni Genovese, Caterina Elisabetta Rizzo and Cristina Genovese
Vaccines 2025, 13(10), 1045; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13101045 - 10 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5617
Abstract
Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach for analyzing the medical–clinical, social, organizational, economic, ethical, and legal implications of a technology, through the evaluation of multiple dimensions such as efficacy, safety, costs, and social–organizational impact. In the healthcare context, “technology” [...] Read more.
Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach for analyzing the medical–clinical, social, organizational, economic, ethical, and legal implications of a technology, through the evaluation of multiple dimensions such as efficacy, safety, costs, and social–organizational impact. In the healthcare context, “technology” refers to any tool—including pharmaceuticals (or, in this case, vaccines)—that is applied to healthcare practice. HTA focuses on assessing both the real and potential effects of a given technology, either prospectively or throughout its life cycle, as well as the consequences that the introduction or exclusion of an intervention may have on the healthcare system, the economy, and society at large. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communicable Diseases: New and Old Therapies and Preventive Strategies, 2nd Edition)

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

26 pages, 606 KB  
Systematic Review
Effects of Respiratory Vaccines in Older Adults with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Scoping Review
by Fernando M. Runzer-Colmenares, Nelson Luis Cahuapaza-Gutierrez, Cielo Cinthya Calderon-Hernandez and Mariam Miyanay Umeres-Bravo
Vaccines 2026, 14(4), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14040308 - 29 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1269
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Vaccination against respiratory viruses—such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumococcal disease, influenza, and COVID-19—may reduce the risk of adverse outcomes in older adults with cardiovascular disease. This study conducted a scoping review of the effects of respiratory vaccines in older adults [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Vaccination against respiratory viruses—such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumococcal disease, influenza, and COVID-19—may reduce the risk of adverse outcomes in older adults with cardiovascular disease. This study conducted a scoping review of the effects of respiratory vaccines in older adults with cardiovascular disease. Methods: We included studies evaluating adults aged ≥ 60 years with cardiovascular disease who received different types of respiratory vaccines. Eligible designs comprised clinical trials, observational cohort studies, and other relevant studies. Editorials, commentaries, and non-original publications were excluded. A comprehensive and targeted literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science from database inception through January 2026. Results: A total of 25 studies were included, encompassing 1,782,787 adults aged ≥ 60 years with cardiovascular disease who received various respiratory vaccines. RSV vaccines were associated with a lower incidence of cardiorespiratory hospitalization and stroke among vaccinated individuals. Pneumococcal vaccines showed that sequential dual vaccination strategies were associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events. Influenza vaccination was associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes, lower mortality, and reduced adverse events. COVID-19 vaccines were associated with reductions in mortality and hospitalizations. These benefits are particularly relevant in an older population with a high burden of comorbidities; therefore, complete vaccination schedules, including booster doses, should be considered a central strategy for prevention and comprehensive management in this high-risk group. Conclusions: Vaccination against respiratory viruses in older adults with cardiovascular disease demonstrates an overall favorable/acceptable profile of efficacy and safety, with reductions in mortality, hospitalizations, and cardiovascular events, without a significant increase in serious adverse events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communicable Diseases: New and Old Therapies and Preventive Strategies, 2nd Edition)
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