In our “Coffee with the Expert” section, we were honored to feature Professor Nicaise Ndembi, PhD. Prof. Ndembi is Deputy Director General and Regional Director of the IVI Africa Regional Office in Kigali, Rwanda, and also serves as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and a Research Professor at Kanazawa University School of Medicine. Previously, he was Principal Advisor to the Director General of Africa CDC, where he established the Partnerships for Africa Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) and led continental preparedness and response efforts for mpox and Marburg disease. In recognition of his impact, he was named to the 2025 TIME100 Health list and the 2025 100 Most Notable Peace Icons in Africa list. Our engaging conversation with Prof. Ndembi explored the evolving role of Africa CDC, including its growth since its establishment in 2017. We discussed the most significant obstacles currently affecting vaccine research and development (R&D) and the implementation of immunization programs across Africa, as well as the primary objectives, opportunities, and challenges of the ACHIEVE Africa initiative (Accelerating Health Innovation, Equity, and Development of Vaccines and Biologics in Africa). The discussion also addressed several other critical issues shaping the future of vaccine equity and health security on the continent.
In the Editor’s Corner section, we address Nipah virus from a historical and public health perspective, highlighting its recurrent outbreaks—predominantly in Asia—and its potential to cause more widespread epidemics. We discuss the current landscape of vaccine candidates and examine how global inequities between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries have contributed to the absence of an approved vaccine to date, despite the virus’s high lethality and pandemic potential.
In our Best Practice section, we summarize the current landscape of cholera vaccines, emphasizing their critical role as an urgent public health intervention alongside sustained investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and broader equity in living conditions. We highlight how vaccination complements—rather than replaces—structural improvements, particularly in settings affected by humanitarian crises, climate-related disruptions, and fragile health systems, where the risk of cholera outbreaks remains high.
Finally, in our Guest Contributor section, Dr. Malook Vir Singh, MBBS, MSc, FRSM, Associate Medical Safety Director at IQVIA (India) and an internationally recognized expert in pharmacovigilance, provides valuable insight in “Safeguarding Vaccine Safety: A Snapshot of Pharmacovigilance.” He outlines pharmacovigilance as the essential, systematic discipline dedicated to detecting, assessing, and preventing adverse events following immunization across the entire vaccine lifecycle—from development and clinical trials to post-marketing surveillance—highlighting its critical role in maintaining public trust and ensuring that the benefits of vaccination consistently outweigh potential risks.
As always, this issue features carefully curated and up-to-date information on the ‘Latest Scientific Publications’ along with the most recent and important ‘News and Alerts’.
We hope you find this February issue both informative and engaging, and we look forward to continuing this shared commitment to advancing global health and building a healthier planet.
