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.
Factors associated with timely vaccination of pertussis-containing vaccines in children born from 2019 to 2023, Shanghai
This study was conducted by Prof Weibing Wang and his team from Fudan University and published in Chinese Journal of Epidemiology. The study analyzed t factors associated with timely vaccination of pertussis-containing vaccines in children born in Shanghai from 2019 to 2023. The results showed that the average vaccination coverage rate was as high as 94.71%-99.53%, but the timely vaccination rate decreased with the increase of doses. The study concludes that pertussis-containing vaccine(DTaP-Hib and DTaP-IPV-Hib)are commonly used and substitute the NIP DTaP vaccine in Shanghai, with high coverage and timely vaccination rates, but some children experience delayed or missed vaccinations, warranting ongoing attention.