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Vaccines
Special Issues
Epidemiology of Diseases Preventable by Vaccination
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Epidemiology of Diseases Preventable by Vaccination

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2613

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Caterina Elisabetta Rizzo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
Interests: vaccine-preventable diseases; health disparities; universal health coverage (UHC); vaccination hesitancy; public health responses to pandemics
Dr. Cristina Genovese

E-Mail Website
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. Roberto Venuto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
Interests: preventive healthcare; vaccination; vaccine hesitancy; health behavior and vaccination; vaccination strategies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vaccines have significantly changed the landscape of infectious diseases. However, vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) still pose significant challenges in areas with limited access to healthcare and with the emergence of new strains of vaccine resistance. The persistence of VPDs, such as the resurgence of measles in regions with declining vaccination rates, underscores the need for epidemiology, which has an important role in understanding the vaccination, transmission dynamics, and prevalence. With advanced epidemiological modeling, researchers can predict disease outbreaks, identify gaps in vaccine coverage, and assess the long-term impacts of vaccination efforts.

This Special Issue aims to address key aspects of the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases, enhance our understanding of their dynamics, and support the development of more effective and sustainable immunization programs worldwide. We welcome original research articles and reviews for consideration in this Special Issue.

Dr. Caterina Elisabetta Rizzo
Dr. Cristina Genovese
Dr. Roberto Venuto
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

  • vaccine safety and efficacy
  • vaccination strategies
  • epidemiological surveillance
  • vaccine equity
  • disease burden and impact

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 374 KB  
Article
Vaccination Coverage in Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Impact of a Tailored Vaccination Pathway Including COVID-19 and Herpes Zoster in a University Hospital Vaccination Center
by Roberto Venuto, Caterina Elisabetta Rizzo, Daniela Lo Giudice, Walter Fries, Concetta Ceccio, Francesco Fedele, Raffaele Squeri and Cristina Genovese
Vaccines 2025, 13(9), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090961 - 11 Sep 2025
Viewed by 343
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of severe infections, particularly when undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Vaccination is a key preventive strategy, but coverage in this group is often suboptimal. This study evaluated vaccination coverage among IBD patients at diagnosis/referral [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of severe infections, particularly when undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Vaccination is a key preventive strategy, but coverage in this group is often suboptimal. This study evaluated vaccination coverage among IBD patients at diagnosis/referral and after admission to a structured hospital-based vaccination pathway. Methods: We conducted an observational study (February 2022–February 2025) at the Vaccination Center (VC) of the University Hospital “G. Martino” in Messina, Italy. Adult IBD patients referred by gastroenterologists were assessed for vaccination status using hospital and regional registries, and personalized schedules were developed based on Italian National Vaccine Prevention Plan guidelines. Descriptive statistics were applied to assess baseline and post-intervention vaccination coverage. Results: Of 154 participants (mean age 64 years; 51.9% male), 55.4% were on immunosuppressive therapy. Baseline coverage was heterogeneous: influenza, 6.5%; PCV13, 25.5%; PPV23, 26.6%; herpes zoster, 62.3%; and COVID-19 primary cycle, 79.6%. After enrollment, substantial improvements were observed: influenza, 89.2%; PCV13, 74.5%; PPV23, 67.0%; herpes zoster, 75.4%; and COVID-19 primary cycle, 96.8%. Coverage for catch-up vaccines also improved (e.g., HBV went from 1.9% to 44.2%). However, uptake of COVID-19 booster doses during the study period remained low (15.6%). No significant differences emerged by sex or treatment subgroup. Conclusions: A structured, collaborative care pathway between gastroenterologists and public health specialists significantly improved vaccination coverage among IBD patients. Despite gains, gaps persist in COVID-19 booster uptake and catch-up vaccinations. Integration of vaccination services into routine IBD management is essential to enhance protection in this high-risk population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Diseases Preventable by Vaccination)
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14 pages, 2595 KB  
Article
Resurgence of Pertussis in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia: Shifting Seasonality, Age Patterns, and the Need for Booster Immunization
by Mioljub Ristić, Vladimir Vuković, Smiljana Rajčević, Snežana Medić, Marko Koprivica and Vladimir Petrović
Vaccines 2025, 13(8), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13080814 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 552
Abstract
Background: Despite decades of high childhood vaccination coverage, pertussis has re-emerged in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (AP Vojvodina), Serbia. We aimed to describe the temporal, seasonal, and age-specific patterns of pertussis in AP Vojvodina and to analyze trends by vaccination status in [...] Read more.
Background: Despite decades of high childhood vaccination coverage, pertussis has re-emerged in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (AP Vojvodina), Serbia. We aimed to describe the temporal, seasonal, and age-specific patterns of pertussis in AP Vojvodina and to analyze trends by vaccination status in order to highlight changes in epidemiology and potential gaps in vaccine-induced protection. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2796 pertussis cases reported between January 1997 and December 2024, examining temporal, seasonal, and age-specific trends, stratifying by vaccination status across four consecutive periods (1997–2003, 2004–2010, 2011–2017, and 2018–2024). Results: Throughout the 28-year period, after low and sporadic cases in the pre-2012 period, a dramatic rise was observed in 2014, 2017, and 2018, culminating in the highest annual number of reported cases in 2024 (1011 cases). Throughout this period, primary vaccination coverage with the DTwP/DTaP three-dose series ranged between 91% and 98%, while first booster coverage gradually declined from 98% in the early 2000s to 83% in 2024. Regarding seasonality, a sharp increase in cases began in 2012, peaking in November 2023 (>350 cases) and early 2024 (312 in January, 268 in February), with a seasonal shift from summer peaks in the 2011–2017 period to higher incidence rates during colder months more recently. Adolescents aged 10–14 years had the highest cumulative incidence (1149.4/100,000), followed by infants under 12 months (978.5/100,000), despite the latter representing fewer absolute cases. The proportion of pertussis in fully vaccinated individuals rose from 6.3% (1997–2003) to 49.7% (2018–2024). Conclusions: These findings suggest that booster immunization in adolescence and routine maternal vaccination during pregnancy could reduce transmission, particularly to infants. Enhanced surveillance and updated immunization policies are critical to mitigating future pertussis outbreaks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Diseases Preventable by Vaccination)
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15 pages, 2074 KB  
Article
Measles Epidemiology and Coverage of Immunization Against Measles in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia: Local Trends in a Regional Context
by Mioljub Ristić, Svetlana Ilić, Smiljana Rajčević, Mirjana Štrbac, Snežana Medić, Tatjana Pustahija, Vladimir Vuković, Marko Koprivica, Gorana Dragovac and Vladimir Petrović
Vaccines 2025, 13(7), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13070711 - 30 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 658
Abstract
Background: Despite ongoing global elimination efforts, measles remains a persistent public health threat. Methods: This retrospective observational study examines trends in crude measles incidence and vaccination coverage from 1948 to 2024 in the northern region of Serbia—Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (AP Vojvodina)—which accounts [...] Read more.
Background: Despite ongoing global elimination efforts, measles remains a persistent public health threat. Methods: This retrospective observational study examines trends in crude measles incidence and vaccination coverage from 1948 to 2024 in the northern region of Serbia—Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (AP Vojvodina)—which accounts for 26.9% of the national population. This study further explores measles vaccination coverage across the province’s seven districts, along with the number of reported measles cases, age distribution, and vaccination status of affected individuals from 2000 to 2024. Data were obtained from official annual immunization records maintained by public health institutions within the framework of Serbia’s national mandatory immunization program. Results: A notable resurgence of measles occurred in Serbia during 2017–2018, following a decline in vaccination coverage. In AP Vojvodina, outbreaks were recorded in 2007, 2014–2015, and 2017–2018, predominantly affecting unvaccinated children and adults aged 20–39 years. Since 2019, the measles incidence has significantly declined. During the 2018 outbreak, the highest incidence was observed among children aged 1–4 years (40.6 per 100,000), followed by infants under 1 year (17.3 per 100,000) and adults aged 20–39 years (12.5 per 100,000). An analysis of the data from 2000 to 2024 revealed substantial age- and dose-related differences in measles incidence, particularly among unvaccinated individuals, those who had received one or two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV), and those with unknown vaccination status. During the 2017–2018 epidemic, unvaccinated children under 1 year and those aged 1–4 years were the most affected. A marked increase in cases among single-dose recipients was noted in 2018, especially in adults aged 20–39 years (9.5%) and those ≥40 years (13.5%). A considerable proportion of measles cases in these age groups had unknown vaccination status: 33.1% among individuals aged 20–39 years and 18.2% among those aged ≥ 40 years. Epidemiological investigation linked the 2007 and 2014–2015 outbreaks in AP Vojvodina to importations from Bosnia and Herzegovina. No specific source was identified for the 2017–2018 outbreak, suggesting possible endemic transmission. Conclusions: These findings underscore the impact of fluctuating vaccination coverage on measles resurgence. Sustaining high two-dose MCV coverage, strengthening routine immunization programs, enhancing surveillance systems, and ensuring timely outbreak preparedness are critical measures for achieving effective measles control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Diseases Preventable by Vaccination)
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