Policy Updates
01
Ya’an City Implements Subsidized Vaccination Policy: Children and Older Adults Eligible for 50% Discount
To further improve vaccine accessibility and coverage among key populations, Ya’an City in Sichuan Province has launched a vaccination subsidy policy effective from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025.
According to the plan, local children aged 1 to 4 years (i.e., over 12 months but under 5 years of age) with Ya‘an household registration are eligible for a 50% subsidy on the cost of varicella (chickenpox) vaccination.
In addition, residents aged 60 years and above with local household registration can receive a 50% subsidy for either the quadrivalent influenza vaccine or the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Each eligible person may choose only one vaccine to receive the discounted rate. If both vaccines are administered, the second will be at full cost. Seniors who have received one dose of the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine within the past five years are not eligible for the current subsidy.
Eligible individuals can bring their ID card or household registration booklet to their local township health center or community health service center to receive the subsidized vaccination.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/7IVK_DVTCG93yP7a9X3YCw
Journal Content Recommendation
01
Trends of non-National Immunization Program vaccine use from 2010 to 2022 in China
This study, published in China Vaccines & Immunology Journal (Zhongguo Yimiao He Mianyi), analyzed the trend in the use of non-National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccines over the past 13 years in China, providing critical insight for optimising vaccination services and policymaking.
From 2010 to 2022, the number of non-NIP vaccine types administered increased from 26 to 41.The annual number of doses administered rose from 77.89 million to 250 million, with an average annual growth rate of 10.27%. The number of doses administered per 10,000 population increased from 584 to 1,786, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 9.76%. Regionally, the eastern region reported the highest vaccination volume, while the western region experienced the fastest growth—particularly in Tibet, Qinghai, and Shaanxi, where the average annual growth rate exceeded 30%.
The implementation of multiple supportive policies—such as free vaccination or insurance coverage for influenza, varicella, and HPV vaccines—significantly increased public willingness to vaccinate. Substantial increases were observed in routine non-NIP childhood vaccines, including rotavirus, pneumococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines. For example, the average annual growth rate for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines reached 19.8%, while DTaP-containing combination vaccines grew at a remarkable rate of 43.8%. In recent years, newly introduced vaccines—such as EV71, HPV, and herpes zoster vaccines—have also expanded rapidly in coverage, further boosting overall vaccination uptake.
The study highlights a general upward trend in non-NIP vaccine use across China. However, challenges remain, including insufficient public awareness, uneven health information dissemination, limitations in data quality, and disparities in vaccine access. The authors recommend improving health communication strategies, enhancing vaccine supply chain management, and innovating service delivery models to further promote equitable and accessible vaccination.
02
A vaccine chatbot intervention for parents to improve HPV vaccination uptake among middle school girls: a cluster randomized trial
This study published by Zhiyuan Hou and colleagues and published in Nature Medicine, evaluates the effectiveness of a conversational AI chatbot in improving HPV vaccination uptake among middle school girls in both urban and rural areas of China. From January to May 2024, the research team conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 2,671 parents from 180 classes in Shanghai and Anhui Province.
Participants in the intervention group (n=1,294) received a two-week personalized consultation via WeChat-based chatbot, while the control group (n=1,377) received standard health education. The study employed an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. The primary outcome was the proportion of parents who scheduled or completed HPV vaccination for their daughters during the intervention period. Secondary outcomes included parental knowledge of HPV vaccines, engagement in health consultations, and ability to recognize vaccine-related misinformation.
The study found that 7.1% of parents in the chatbot group scheduled or completed HPV vaccination for their daughters, compared to 1.8% in the control group (P < 0.001). Additionally, the chatbot group showed significantly higher engagement with healthcare providers (49.1% vs 17.6%), improved vaccine literacy, and enhanced rumor discernment (all P < 0.001). The intervention was particularly effective in rural areas, where the vaccination rate was 8.81 times higher than that in the control group. Parents with high engagement and those interacting with the chatbot’s “nurse” persona demonstrated stronger vaccination intent.
This study demonstrated that real-time, personalized consultation powered by artificial intelligence can effectively enhance parental knowledge about vaccines, promote proactive health-seeking behavior, and ultimately improve vaccination uptake. However, in the context of non-NIP vaccines that require out-of-pocket payment and are subject to supply limitations, additional policy support is needed to reduce financial barriers.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03618-6
03
The structural and organizational aspects of human papillomavirus vaccine affecting immunization coverage in Europe: a systematic review
This article, published in BMC Public Health. By searching six databases (Cochrane CENTRAL, MedLine, EMBASE, PsycInfo, etc.) for studies published between January 1, 1995, and May 31, 2023, the authors identified ten eligible studies spanning seven countries—including Italy, the UK, France, and Switzerland—and pan-European collaborations involving 15–27 countries. Quality assessment tools used included the Ottawa scale, the JBI critical appraisal tool, and the AMSTAR framework.
Key findings highlighted that centralized procurement strategies significantly reduced vaccine costs. Transitioning from three-dose to two-dose schedules proved effective in some nations. School-based vaccination programs consistently demonstrated high coverage, especially among vulnerable populations. Organizational enablers such as electronic health records enhanced completeness of immunization data; provider training improved recommendation practices; and multi-platform health communication strategies positively influenced public acceptance.
Despite these strengths, significant disparities remain across European countries in terms of policy implementation, financing, and infrastructure. To achieve WHO’s 2030 target of 90% HPV vaccine coverage among girls before the age of 15, the study recommends coordinated regional procurement mechanisms, standardized school-based delivery models, enhanced training for healthcare professionals, improved health information systems, and targeted health promotion efforts to increase vaccine accessibility, optimize service delivery, and improve public awareness.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22343-w
04
A new approach to define the optimal immunization strategy against pneumococcal disease: the example of Canada
This article, published in Epidemiology and Infection, presents a comprehensive framework for optimizing pneumococcal immunization strategies in Canada. Drawing on national invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) surveillance data from 2018–2022, the study evaluates the serotype coverage, invasiveness, virulence, antimicrobial resistance, and immunogenicity of next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15, PCV20, and PCV21).
Findings indicate that a 2+1 schedule of PCV20 is optimal for children due to broader coverage of highly invasive and virulent serotypes, thereby minimizing adult IPD risk via indirect protection. For the elderly, PCV21 offers superior protection, particularly against highly virulent serotypes. For high-risk adults, a sequential PCV20+PCV21 strategy is recommended. The proposed multidimensional assessment supports evidence-based vaccine policy decision-making in Canada and potentially other jurisdictions.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268825000305
05
Demand planning for vaccinations using the example of seasonal influenza vaccination – country comparison and implications for Germany
This study published in BMC Public Health, systematically analyzes the current status and challenges of seasonal influenza vaccine demand planning in Germany. Drawing from international practices in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States, the authors propose evidence-based recommendations for system optimization. Using a two-step methodology, the study first conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Germany’s existing influenza vaccine demand planning system. The second stage involved comparative analysis of demand planning and procurement strategies in the six reference countries.
Key international practices include: Australia’s multi-state forecasting and mandatory vaccine registration system; Canada’s federal-provincial tender coordination and surplus stock reallocation; the UK’s centralized online ordering and real-time monitoring via ImmForm; the U.S.’s encouragement of pre-ordering to reduce supply delays; Switzerland’s contingency stockpiling and flexible importation mechanisms; and Singapore’s public-private partnership model to streamline distribution.
The study recommends that Germany prioritize establishing a centralized ordering platform to enhance forecast accuracy, implement binding pre-orders, introduce vaccine return and redistribution schemes, and improve data monitoring capacities. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of emerging mRNA vaccine technologies to shorten production cycles and enhance supply flexibility.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22420-0
Content Editor: Ziqi Liu
Page Editor: Ziqi Liu
