Granskog L, Saadeh K, Lorenz K, Quint J, Salih T, Lo T, Jacobson K, Ramos M, Chapman E, Snyder RE, Lewnard JA. Effect of JYNNEOS vaccination on mpox clinical progression: a case-control study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Oct;25(10):1106-1115.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00180-X
Editorial comment: This case-control study analyzed data from public health surveillance interviews of individuals with mpox in California. Among 3,043 cases, 114 (3.7%) had received pre-exposure vaccination and 214 (7.0%) had received post-exposure vaccination only. Among 1,566 controls, 285 (18.2%) had received pre-exposure vaccination and 146 (9.3%) post-exposure vaccination only. The estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against disease progression was 58.8% (95% CI: 50.3–65.9) for pre-exposure vaccination and 15.9% (95% CI: 3.3–26.8) for post-exposure vaccination. Among people without HIV, pre-exposure VE against progression was 66.6% (95% CI: 56.8–74.2), compared with 44.8% (95% CI: 27.5–58.0) among those with HIV. Pre-exposure vaccination was also associated with strong protection against progression to severe illness requiring hospitalization (VE: 85.4%; 95% CI: 54.3–95.3).
Folegatti PM, Pepin S, Tabar C, Fries K, Talanova O, See S, Essink B, Bertoch T, Drazan D, Natalini Martínez S, Konieczny M, Kaas-Leach K, De Bruijn I. Comparative assessment of immunogenicity and safety of recombinant influenza vaccine in children, adolescents, and adults: results from a phase 3, immunobridging, open-label, non-randomised study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Oct;25(10):1097-1105.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00153-7
Editorial comment: The recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) is licensed for adults ≥18 years but not for children. This phase 3, non-randomised, immunobridging, open-label study assessed immune responses and safety in participants aged 9–17 years versus 18–49 years across 36 centres in Europe and the USA during the 2022–23 influenza season. Between Oct 27, 2022, and May 1, 2023, 1,308 participants were enrolled and 1,299 (99%) vaccinated (641 aged 9–17 years; 658 aged 18–49 years). At day 29, the paediatric-to-adult HAI GMT ratios were 2.0 (95% CI 1.7–2.3), 3.3 (2.8–3.9), 1.6 (1.4–1.8), and 1.2 (1.1–1.4) for A/H1N1, H3N2, B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata, respectively. Differences in seroconversion rates were 1.9 (–2.8 to 6.6), –0.6 (–4.4 to 3.2), 3.3 (–1.6 to 8.1), and 14.3 (9.2 to 19.3). Safety profiles were comparable between age groups.
Jongihlati B, Segall N, Block SL, Absalon J, Perez J, Munson S, Sanchez-Pearson Y, Simon R, Silmon de Monerri NC, Radley D, McLaughlin LC, Gaylord M, Gruber WC, Jansen KU, Scott DA, Anderson AS. Safety and immunogenicity of a booster dose of a novel hexavalent group B streptococcus conjugate vaccine in healthy, non-pregnant adults: a phase 2, open-label extension of a phase 1/2 randomised controlled trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Oct;25(10):1138-1148.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00216-6
Editorial comment: This phase 2, open-label extension of a phase 1/2 trial at four US sites evaluated the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a booster dose (20 µg capsular polysaccharide per serotype) of the hexavalent group B streptococcus (GBS6) conjugate vaccine, with or without aluminium phosphate (AlPO4). Of 297 participants from the base study, 151 received a booster (76 with AlPO4, 75 without) a median of 2.4 years after primary vaccination. One month post-booster, serotype-specific anti-CPS IgG responses were two- to 18-fold higher (GMC range 6.025–60.304 µg/mL) than after the primary dose (0.365–35.173 µg/mL), with GMFRs of ~10- to 59-fold across serotypes and formulations. The booster was well tolerated, and immune responses exceeded those seen after the primary dose.
A single 20 µg GBS6 booster given ~2 years after primary vaccination in healthy, non-pregnant adults was safe and induced strong, durable immune responses.
Kulkarni PS, Zaman K, Desai SA, Bharati S, Goswami DR, Sharmeen AT, Rana S, Haque W, Khandelwal A, Manney S, Tyagi P, Gairola S, Zade JK, Pisal SS, Dhere RM, Poonawalla CS, Lamberigts C, Parulekar V, Potey AV. Safety and immunogenicity of a reduced-dose inactivated poliovirus vaccine versus a full-dose inactivated poliovirus vaccine in infants in Bangladesh: a double-blind, non-inferiority, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Oct;25(10):1128-1137.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00215-4
Editorial comment: Replacing oral polio vaccine with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is essential to prevent vaccine-derived poliovirus transmission. This trial compared the safety and immunogenicity of a dose-sparing IPV (ds-IPV) versus full-dose IPV in Bangladeshi infants. Between Jan 9, 2022, and Apr 29, 2023, 1,072 infants were randomized to ds-IPV (n=801) or IPV (n=267); 1,052 completed the study. Seroconversion rates for ds-IPV and IPV were 96% vs 97% for type 1 (difference –0.55%, 95% CI –3.05 to 1.95), 95% vs 98% for type 2 (–3.83%, –6.48 to –1.19), and 97% vs 98% for type 3 (–0.78%, –2.73 to 1.16). Both vaccines were well tolerated.
Three intramuscular doses of ds-IPV were safe and immunologically non-inferior to full-dose IPV, suggesting dose-sparing formulations could offer a cost-effective option for immunisation programmes.
Zeitouni J, Osazuwa-Peters N, Dundar Y, Zimet G, Varvares MA. Two decades of the HPV vaccine: its promise, progress, prospects, projections, and posterity. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2025 Sep 15;51:101243.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101243
Editorial comment: Since its FDA approval in 2006, the HPV vaccine has transformed prevention of cervical, oropharyngeal, and other HPV-associated cancers in the U.S. While 78.2% of adolescents have initiated and 62.9% completed vaccination, support for the vaccine remains critical. State-level action is key, as federal guidance from HHS is advisory. Only five states and territories have school-entry HPV vaccination requirements, with varying enforcement, contributing to wide completion disparities—from 79.8% in Massachusetts to 39.1% in Mississippi. Evidence shows that school-entry mandates can markedly increase uptake. As the vaccine nears its twentieth anniversary, achieving the Healthy People 2030 goal of 80% series completion requires robust state policies and sustained access to ensure ongoing prevention of HPV-related cancers.
Gentile A, Juárez MDV, Lucion MF, Gregorio G, López O, Fernández T, Gioiosa A, Lobertti S, Pejito N, López L, Ensinck G. Maternal Immunization With RSVpreF Vaccine: Effectiveness in Preventing Respiratory Syncytial Virus-associated Hospitalizations in Infants Under 6 Months in Argentina: Multicenter Case-control Study. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Oct 1;44(10):988-994.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000004878
Editorial comment: Starting in March 2024, Argentina introduced the bivalent RSVpreF vaccine for pregnant women between 32.0 and 36.6 weeks of gestation during the RSV season. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of maternal immunization in preventing RSV-associated hospitalizations among infants under 6 months of age, comparing those born to vaccinated versus unvaccinated women, using a nested case-control design with a test-negative approach. Maternal RSV vaccination was less common among RSV cases than among controls (17.6% vs. 44.8%; P < 0.001). Among infants with RSV, those born to vaccinated mothers required fewer days of oxygen therapy (4 vs. 7 days; P < 0.001) and had shorter hospital stays (5 vs. 8 days; P < 0.001). The crude effectiveness of maternal RSV immunization in infants under 6 months was 68.2% (95% CI: 33.1%–84.9%), and 78.7% (95% CI: 51.4%–90.7%) after adjustment for age <3 months, prematurity, and chronic respiratory disease.
DeSieghardt A, Ding L, Ermel A, Franco EL, Dagnall C, Brown DR, Yao S, Kahn JA. Population-Level Effectiveness and Herd Protection 17 Years After HPV Vaccine Introduction. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Sep 29.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.3568
Editorial comment: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from six surveillance studies conducted between 2006 and 2023, including sexually experienced adolescent girls and young women aged 13–26 years recruited from clinical settings. Participants were classified as vaccinated if they had received at least one HPV vaccine dose. Effectiveness and herd protection were assessed by comparing the prevalence of vaccine-type HPV across 2-valent (2vHPV), 4-valent (4vHPV), and 9-valent (9vHPV) vaccines between vaccinated and unvaccinated participants. Prevalence in vaccinated participants from studies 2–6 was compared with unvaccinated participants from study 1. Inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity scores was used to balance participant characteristics across waves. Among 2,335 participants (mean age 18.9 ± 2.7 years), vaccine-type HPV positivity declined sharply over time. In vaccinated participants, prevalence decreased from 27.7% to 0.4% for 2vHPV (relative reduction 98.4%), 35.4% to 2.1% for 4vHPV (94.2%), and 48.6% to 11.8% for 9vHPV (75.7%). Among unvaccinated participants, prevalence decreased from 25.8% to 7.3% for 2vHPV (71.6%), 25.3% to 6.1% for 4vHPV (75.8%), and 42.7% to 31.1% for 9vHPV (27.2%). Seventeen years after HPV vaccine introduction, population-level effectiveness and herd protection remain robust, even among sexually experienced adolescent girls and young women at higher risk who may not have completed the full vaccine series.
Celis-Salinas Juan C, Ramirez-Garcia EA, Fiestas-Solorzano VA, Casapia-Morales M. Twenty-five years of pertussis outbreaks in the Peruvian Amazon: a call to strengthen equity in vaccination and control. The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. 2025 Sep; 51: 101255.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101255
Editorial comment: In this descriptive report, the authors detail a significant pertussis outbreak in Peru. National incidence rose from 3.9 cases per million in 2023 to 7.4 in 2024 and 57.5 by epidemiological week 33 of 2025, totaling 1,956 confirmed and probable cases with a case-fatality rate of 1.28%. Children under 12 years accounted for 70.5% (1,379/1,956) of cases, and 73.4% (1,436/1,956) occurred in the Amazonian region of Loreto, where 23 of the 25 deaths (92%) were reported. None of the deceased had received pertussis vaccination, and most were younger than one year.
Saif-Ur-Rahman KM, King C, Whelan SO, Blair M, Donohue S, Madden C, Kothari K, Sommer I, Harder T, Dauby N, Moustsen-Helms IR, Ruta S, Frère J, Schönfeld V, Poukka E, Lutsar I, Olsson K, Melidou A, Adel Ali K, Dwan K, Devane D. Efficacy and safety of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025 Sep 29;9(9):CD016131.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD016131
Editorial comment: In this Cochrane study, the authors systematically reviewed CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP from 2000 to April 2024, following standard methodology. RSV prefusion vaccines were shown to reduce RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness and acute respiratory illness in older adults, with little to no difference in serious adverse events (SAEs). Maternal vaccination with RSV F protein-based vaccines reduced medically attended and severe RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness in infants, also with little to no difference in SAEs among mothers or infants.
Barrenechea GG, Sanchez R, Calderon OC, Buffone OR, Bastos LS. Characterization of the most austral autochthonous dengue outbreak reported in the world (city of Bahía Blanca, Argentina, January–June 2024). A cross-sectional study. The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. 2025; 51: 101254.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101254
Editorial comment: The aim of this study was to provide an epidemiological description of the first recorded dengue outbreak at the southernmost latitude on the planet. In Bahía Blanca (Buenos Aires, Argentina), dengue virus circulation was documented between January 1 and June 10, 2024. A total of 94 laboratory-confirmed cases were identified among 470 suspected cases. Of these, 63 were classified as autochthonous and 28 as imported. Both DENV-1 and DENV-2 serotypes were detected in these cases. This study offers clear evidence of dengue fever expanding into latitudes previously considered outside the known transmission range in Argentina. The documentation of dengue emergence in new geographic areas underscores the urgent need for public health authorities to implement preventive measures and policies to mitigate the growing disease burden.
Chen CH, Chen CL, Su LH, Chen CJ, Tsai MH, Chiu CH. The microbiological characteristics and diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in the conjugate vaccine era. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2497611.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2025.2497611
Two pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), Editorial comment: PCV15 and PCV20, were licensed in June 2021. PCV15 includes two additional serotypes (22F and 33F) beyond those contained in PCV13, while PCV20 adds seven more (8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F, and 33F), together accounting for approximately 30% of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) cases in adults. In June 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the use of either PCV15 or PCV20 for all children under 5 years of age, as well as for those aged 2–18 years with underlying risk conditions. Subsequently, in June 2024, the FDA approved PCV21 for adults aged ≥18 years. In October 2024, ACIP expanded its recommendations, endorsing either PCV20 or PCV21 alone, or PCV15 followed by PPSV23, for adults aged ≥50 years and for those aged 19–49 years with risk conditions. These developments underscore the rapidly evolving landscape of pneumococcal vaccination. This review explores the molecular epidemiology of pneumococcal infections, recent advances in diagnostic approaches, and the expected public health impact of these new vaccines in reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease.
Cotet IG, Mateescu DM, Ilie, Cristina Guse AC, Pah AM, Badalica-Petrescu M, Iurciuc S, Craciun ML, Buleu F, Tudoran C. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Myocarditis: Prevalence and Diagnostics in COVID-19: Acute, Post-COVID, and MIS-C (2020–2025). J Clin Med 2025; 14: 7008.
doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14197008
Editorial comment: The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 54 studies encompassing 32,500 patients, stratified by acute COVID-19, post-COVID, and MIS-C phases. The pooled prevalence of myocarditis was 1.2% (95% CI: 0.8–1.6) during acute COVID-19, 7.4% (95% CI: 5.1–9.8) in the post-COVID phase, and 39.8% (95% CI: 32.4–47.2) in MIS-C. Major cardiac outcomes included reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 22% of cases and ventricular arrhythmias in 15%. Overall, the prevalence of myocarditis in COVID-19 varies significantly across clinical phases and diagnostic methods. These findings underscore the need for careful cardiac screening, particularly in MIS-C and selected post-COVID or athlete populations, as well as the importance of standardized diagnostic criteria and long-term follow-up. Importantly, the data further support vaccination of adolescents and children, who represent the population with the highest risk of COVID-19–related myocarditis.
Zeevat F, Luttjeboer J, Korsten K, van Boven M, Postma MJ, van der Pol S, Boersma C. Evaluating cost-effectiveness of RSV vaccination strategies for older adults in the Netherlands. Vaccine. 2025 Sep 26;65:127735.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127735
Editorial comment: In this study, a static decision tree cost-effectiveness model was developed to compare no vaccination with several RSV vaccination strategies for Dutch adults over six RSV seasons. The strategies evaluated included vaccinating adults aged ≥60 years, ≥75 years, and those aged ≥75 years combined with high-risk individuals aged 60–74 years. Each strategy was assessed using two- and three-year vaccination intervals. Vaccinating individuals aged ≥75 years and high-risk adults every three years was projected to prevent approximately 19,000 general practitioner visits, 3,300 hospitalizations (including 245 intensive care admissions), and 870 deaths in the first year. This approach was estimated to avert €29.5 million in healthcare costs and €6.3 million in productivity losses, yielding a gain of 2,900 QALYs. The strategy was determined to be cost-effective, with an average cost-effectiveness ratio (ACER) of €30,804 per QALY gained.
Cerqueira-Silva T, Rodrigues LC, Pearce N, Teixeira MG, Costa MDCN, Cardim L, Boaventura VS, Lawlor DA, Barreto ML, Paixao ES. Perinatal outcomes of symptomatic chikungunya, dengue and Zika infection during pregnancy in Brazil: a registry-based cohort study. Nat Commun. 2025 Aug 5;16(1):7207.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62640-x
Editorial comment: This Brazilian study used a linked population-based cohort from 2015 to 2020, including 6,993,395 live births. Among these, 6,066 (<0.1%) mothers had chikungunya, 19,022 (0.3%) had dengue, and 8,396 (0.1%) had Zika during pregnancy. Symptomatic maternal chikungunya was associated with preterm birth (HR 1.10; 95% CI 1.01–1.22), low Apgar score at 5 minutes (1.44; 1.14–1.82), and neonatal death (1.50; 1.15–1.96). Dengue was linked to preterm birth (1.07; 1.02–1.12), low birth weight (1.10; 1.04–1.15), congenital anomalies (1.19; 1.03–1.37), and low Apgar score (1.26; 1.09–1.45). Zika infection was associated with all adverse outcomes, particularly congenital anomalies, with more than double the risk (2.36; 1.91–2.67) compared to unexposed pregnancies. These findings underscore the significant impact of arboviral infections during pregnancy and highlight the need for effective prevention strategies to protect maternal and neonatal health.
Genovese G, Rizzo CE, Genovese C. Health Technology Assessment of mRNA Vaccines: Clinical, Economic, and Public Health Implications. Vaccines. 2025; 13(10):1045.
doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13101045
Editorial comment: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary approach that evaluates the clinical, social, organizational, economic, ethical, and legal implications of healthcare technologies by assessing their efficacy, safety, cost, and broader impact. In healthcare, “technology” encompasses any tool used in practice, including pharmaceuticals and vaccines. HTA examines both the current and potential effects of technology across its life cycle. In this context, mRNA vaccines represent an innovative platform offering high efficacy, safety, scalability, and rapid development. Their success during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted not only their clinical value but also their contribution to healthcare resilience and economic efficiency. Looking forward, mRNA platforms hold great promise for preventing other infectious diseases and for developing therapeutic vaccines against cancer and autoimmune disorders.
Kuo T-H, Chen Y-C. Biotechnology and the Future of Vaccines—From Novel Routes and Vectors to Safety, Efficacy, and Global Impact. Vaccines. 2025; 13(10):1043.
doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13101043
Editorial comment: This is an excellent review of current, novel, and future vaccine platforms, with a strong emphasis on vector-based vaccines and their potential global impact.
Domingo JL. Differentiating COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse events from long COVID: A comprehensive review of clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, and diagnostic approaches. Vaccine. 2025 Oct 11;66:127842.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127842
Editorial comment: Through a comprehensive literature search (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) covering December 2020 to June 2025 and including peer-reviewed studies, clinical trials, and cohort analyses, this review confirms that COVID-19 vaccines maintain a strong safety profile, with rare adverse events such as myocarditis and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. In contrast, long COVID affects approximately 10–40% of SARS-CoV-2 survivors, most commonly presenting with fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and dyspnea.
Chacon-Cruz E, Lopatynsky-Reyes E. Infectious Diseases and Cancer: The Role of Vaccination. Med Res Arch. 2025; 13.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v13i9.6928
Editorial comment: This editorial explores the role of infections in cancer, addressing not only pathogens directly involved in oncogenesis, but also how certain respiratory viruses—such as influenza—can promote cancer dissemination, a recent finding. The article further discusses how vaccines and immunization strategies can disrupt these processes, reinforcing the profound value of vaccination in preventing not only infections, but also infection-related and infection-triggered cancers.
Rodriguez-Morales AJ, Torres-Hernández D, Guevara ME, Chang-Cojulun A, Brea-Del Castillo J, Rios-Blanco R, Mérida-Barrios MI, Palmieri M, Avila-Agüero ML. Yellow fever in children and adolescents amid the South American outbreak, 2024/2025. New Microbes New Infect. 2025 Sep 3;67:101635.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nmni.2025.101635
Editorial comment: Yellow fever (YF) in South America follows cyclical outbreak patterns that have influenced public health policies for over a century. The ongoing resurgence during 2024–2025 marks the largest epidemic wave in Colombia in more than two decades and continues to impact neighboring countries, particularly Brazil and Peru. Despite this, children and adolescents—one of the most vulnerable groups—remain underrepresented in research and public discussion. This review focuses on the clinical and epidemiological features of YF among children and adolescents during the 2024–2025 South American outbreak.
Chen, W.H., Barnes, R.S., Sikorski, M.J. et al. A combination typhoid and non-typhoidal Salmonella polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in healthy adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial. Nat Med. 2025 Oct.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-04003-z
Editorial comment: The authors conducted a first-in-human, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the Trivalent Salmonella Conjugate Vaccine (TSCV). Twenty-two healthy adults aged 18–45 years were randomly assigned to receive 6.25 µg TSCV (n = 8), 12.5 µg TSCV (n = 10), or placebo (n = 4). For each of the three polysaccharides, immune responses—defined as ≥4-fold increases over baseline—were observed in all (100%) vaccine recipients, with no responses in the placebo group. The study met its prespecified immunogenicity endpoints, and no serious adverse events were reported.
Polisky V, Littmann M, Triastcyn A, Horn M, Georgiou A, Widenmaier R, Anspach B, Tahrat H, Kumar S, Buser-Doepner C, Geldsetzer P, Van Duijn CM, Schwab P. Varicella-zoster virus reactivation and the risk of dementia. Nat Med. 2025 Oct 6.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03972-5
Editorial comment: In this study, the authors present a large-scale longitudinal analysis of health records from over 100 million individuals in the United States, showing a consistent association between varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation and dementia. This relationship persisted after adjusting for nearly 400 covariates, including demographics, comorbidities, medications, and healthcare-related factors. Recurrent herpes zoster (HZ) was linked to a higher dementia risk compared to a single episode, while HZ vaccination was associated with a lower risk relative to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.
