This editorial, co-authored by four guest editors, summarized the thematic series “Advancing China’s National Immunization Program: Improving its Effectiveness and Sustainability” published in Infectious Diseases of Poverty, led by the innovation Laboratory for Vaccine Delivery Research (VaxLab). The editorial discussed the implementation of China’s national immunization program and the coverage of key non-immunization vaccines, with an emphasis on strategies to improve vaccine coverage. In addition, the editorial mentioned the VaxLab’s future focus areas, including vaccine financing, diversity, equity and inclusiveness of immunization coverage, and maternal vaccination. VaxLab’s research work will be expanded beyond China to Southeast Asian and the WHO Western Pacific region, particularly to address challenges that middle-income countries faced in vaccine financing and delivery.
Independent and joint associations of sex and birth order with non‑national immunization program vaccine coverage among Chinese children: a cross-sectional analysis
This research conducted by Prof. Xiaolin Xu and team from Zhejiang University, was published in the International Journal for Equity in Health. Based on a 2022 survey in Zhejiang and Henan provinces, the study analyzed the independent and joint associations of sex and birth order with non-National Immunization Program (non-NIP) vaccine coverage among Chinese children aged 1–6. The results showed that birth order was an important factor influencing vaccination, with the lowest coverage observed among later-born girls, particularly third or later-born daughters.
