This article was published in BMC-Public Health by Dan Wu from Nanjing Medical University and Jing Li from West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University and their teams. The study used a sequential mixed-methods approach with the objective to identify potential factors that lead to HPV vaccination delay among adolescent girls in China. The study found that Chinese caregivers delaying their children’s vaccination to wait for the 9-valent HPV vaccine is influenced by a combination of individual and contextual factors. Targeted health communication strategies are needed to accelerate HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents.
Closing the immunization gap: Overcoming barriers for new vaccine introduction in Southeast and South Asia
This review, conducted by Innovation Lab for Vaccine Delivery Research (VaxLab) from Duke Kunshan University, was published in Vaccine. The study systematically compares the status of new vaccine introduction within national immunization programs across 13 countries in Southeast and South Asia, with a particular focus on differences associated with Gavi funding eligibility. The findings show that countries eligible for Gavi’s middle-income country (MIC) support approach lag behind in introducing key vaccines such as pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and rotavirus vaccine. Major barriers include underdeveloped evidence-based decision-making processes, limited domestic financing, high vaccine prices, and gaps in immunization system readiness. This article highlights the need to strengthen governance and sustainable financing mechanisms, optimize resource use, and leverage targeted technical support from global partners to accelerate equitable access to life-saving vaccines and advance the Immunization Agenda 2030.
