The research was conducted by Xiaolin Xu and team from Zhejiang University and published in Infectious Diseases of Poverty. The study found immunization disparities in non-NIP vaccines among migrant and left-behind families compared with their local counterparts. Non-NIP vaccination promotion strategies, including education on caregivers, and optimization of the immunization information system, should be delivered particularly among left-behind and migrant families.
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.