“Maternal RSVpreF and Infant Nirsevimab Immunizations Uptake During Respiratory Syncytial Virus Season”
Published: JAMA Network 2025; 8(2): e2460729. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.60729
Editorial comment: This retrospective cohort study included pregnant individuals, and their infants delivered between September 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024, at an urban academic center in Boston, MA. During the study period, 1,899 pregnant patients (median [IQR] age: 33.9 [30.9-36.8] years) were admitted for childbirth. Overall, 20.5% of mothers and 35.0% of infants received RSV immunizations, aligning with previous CDC reports but lower than the 35% maternal vaccination rate reported in a New York health system. Future research should explore systemic factors contributing to non-vaccination, particularly among pregnant women.
“Transplacental Antibodies: Role of Maternal Vaccines and Immunity”.
Published: Clin Perinatol 2025; 52: 101-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clp.2024.10.007
Editorial comment: A compelling, comprehensive, and practical review of maternal vertical protection to the newborn through the placenta, highlighting the numerous protective benefits of maternal immunization, particularly during the third trimester.
“WHO defeating meningitis symposium, 3rd international symposium on Streptococcus agalactiae disease (ISSAD) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: State-of-the-art overview of S. agalactiae meningitis”.
Published: Vaccine 2025; 52: 126895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126895
Editorial comment: The World Health Organization (WHO) Defeating Meningitis Symposium was held as part of the 3rd International Symposium on Streptococcus agalactiae Disease (ISSAD) conference, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from October 16–18, 2023. The symposium highlighted WHO’s Defeating Meningitis by 2030 global roadmap, with a particular focus on Group B Streptococcus (GBS) meningitis. It provided an overview of the disease burden and the key challenges in combating meningitis across the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
“Exploration of a GMMA-Based Bivalent Vaccine Against Klebsiella pneumoniae”.
Published: Vaccines 2025; 13: 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13030226
Editorial comment: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacterium responsible for thousands of local and systemic infections, often associated with multidrug resistance (MDR), particularly in vulnerable populations such as hospitalized patients, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly. Vaccination against this potentially lethal pathogen is a priority for many health organizations. This study evaluates the initial efficacy and safety of a recombinant strain developed using Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA) technology in animal models—an encouraging candidate for further investigation in human clinical trials.
“Prevalence, clinical management, and outcomes of adults hospitalized with endemic arbovirus illness in southeast Europe (MERMAIDS-ARBO): a prospective observational study”.
Published: Lancet 2025: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00655-8
Editorial comment: In this prospective observational study (MERMAIDS-ARBO), the authors enrolled adults hospitalised with an arbovirus-compatible disease syndrome within 21 days of symptom onset across 21 hospitals in seven countries in southeast Europe over four arbovirus seasons (May 1–Oct 31, during 2016–19). The primary outcome was the proportion of participants with confirmed or probable acute infections with West Nile virus (WNV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), or Toscana virus (TOSV), per reference laboratory criteria. Of 847 participants with a reference laboratory sample who met full eligibility criteria for analysis, 110 (13%) were diagnosed with 114 confirmed or probable acute arbovirus infections (four had coinfections or cross-reactivity): one (<1%) with CCHFV, 16 (2%) with TBEV, 44 (5%) with TOSV, and 53 (6%) with WNV. There was one death (<1%) of an individual with WNV. Of the 110 participants, 49 (45%) had a local clinician-attributed arbovirus discharge diagnosis. These data highlight the need to strengthen arbovirus surveillance systems for the early detection of emerging and re-emerging outbreaks, including investments to increase awareness of arbovirus infections among clinicians, to improve access to specialist diagnostics, and to develop effective and accessible vaccines and treatments to protect populations and health systems in southeast Europe.
“Associations of COVID-19 vaccination with risks for post-infectious cardiovascular complications: an international cohort study in cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
Published: Lancet Regional Health – Americas 2025; 44: 101038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101038
Editorial comment: A retrospective cohort study showing that COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of cardiac complications and cardiovascular events by 34% and 24%, respectively, after SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with cancer.
“Next-generation seasonal influenza virus vaccines need a neuraminidase component”.
Published: Vaccine 2025; 54: 126994.
Editorial comment: This insightful commentary highlights the potential need to incorporate neuraminidase components into future influenza vaccines. The rationale behind this approach is that relying solely on hemagglutinin antigens increases the risk of inadequate coverage against antigenic drift and limits cross-protection, particularly in the face of a potential influenza pandemic, among other public health issues.
“Cost-effectiveness analysis of 21-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine among adults in Canada”.
Published: Vaccine 2025; 54: 126126985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126985
Editorial comment: In this pharmacoeconomic study, by using a static cohort model to estimate lifetime incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), in 2023 Canadian dollars per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), PCV21 was cost-effective at a $50,000 per QALY threshold and dominated PCV20 in most scenarios when PCV21 serotypes were more prevalent.
“Antibody Response to Pertussis Vaccine Among Children and Adolescents in Croatia: A Cross-Sectional Prevalence Study.”
Published: Vaccines 2025; 13: 228. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13030288
Editorial comment: The current national vaccination program does not completely control the transmission of Bordetella pertussis in Croatia. This cross-sectional seroprevalence study aimed to measure the prevalence of IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin (IgG-anti-PT) in regularly vaccinated Croatian children of 6–18 years of age and to estimate the duration of pertussis vaccine-induced immunity elicited by the National Immunization Program (NIP) with respect to the transition from a mixed acellular pertussis (DTaP) and whole-cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccine regimen to a DTaP regimen. Single-serum IgG-anti-PT concentrations were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and analyzed in twelve age groups from 2020 to 2023. According to the manufacturer’s classification, IgG-anti-PT concentrations of <40 IU/mL were considered to be negative (no protection). Most subjects had an IgG-anti-PT concentration < 40 IU/mL (95.1%). Although introducing a booster pertussis vaccine could be suitable for young adolescents to strengthen their immunity, before such a recommendation, it would be useful to initiate further research to complement the results obtained in this study, perhaps not to remove the booster dose with DTwP.
“A journey worth taking: global eradication of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome”
Published: Review of Vaccines, 24(1), 173–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/14760584.2025.2476535
Editorial Comment: Yet because of inaction, measles and rubella continue to kill and maim children. The opportunity to rid the world of measles and congenital rubella syndrome, therefore, must be seized without delay.
“Effectiveness of nirsevimab in reducing hospitalizations in emergency departments due to bronchiolitis among infants under 3 months: a retrospective study”
Published: Eur J Pediatr 184, 229 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-025-06050-7
Editorial Comment: What is New:
• Nirsevimab showed 53.5% (95% CI 34.1–67.3) adjusted effectiveness in reducing hospitalizations for all-cause bronchiolitis in infants aged < 3 months in emergency departments.
• Analyses included social deprivation and highlighted potential disparities in immunization access.
“Chikungunya virus in Europe: A retrospective epidemiology study from 2007 to 2023”
Published: PLoS Negl Trop Dis 19(3): e0012904. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012904
Editorial Comment: This study provides the first overview of chikungunya infections in mainland Europe in the time period 2007–2023. The 4730 chikungunya cases were reported in 22 countries, predominantly affecting females aged 45–64 years. The United Kingdom had the highest number of cases (21.9%), followed by France (19.6%), Germany (14.5%), and Italy (13.6%). Bubble plot illustrating the dynamics of age-standardized incidence rates by country per year showed significant variation. The majority of chikungunya infections in humans were travel-related, with most cases originating from India (11.7%), Dominican Republic (9.0%), Guadeloupe (8.7%), and Thailand (7.8%). Chikungunya cases in Europe showed a seasonal pattern with peaks mainly associated with summer vacation. Two genotypes were identified based on genome sequencing, with the II-ECSA genotype being predominant. Common symptoms included fever (97.6%), joint pain (94.3%), and fatigue (63.5%).
“Novel strategy for whole-genome sequencing of hepatitis A virus using NGS illumina technology and phylogenetic comparison with partial VP1/2A genomic region”
Published: Sci Rep 15, 6375 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91116-7
Editorial Comment: HEPATITIS A OUTBREAK IN ARGENTINA: The study of partial VP1/2A regions (mainly the 1084 bp fragment) would constitute useful alternatives for outbreak investigation and surveillance when WGS could not be performed.
“Increase in Hepatitis A Cases in Argentina” (Spanish Version)
Published: comunicacion_epidemiologica-hepatitis_vf.pdf 19 FEB2025
Editorial Comment: In the context of epidemiological surveillance, a variation in the incidence of hepatitis A has been observed in recent years. During the five-year period 2019-2023, an average of 31 cases were reported annually, with a minimum of 10 in 2021 and a maximum of 55 in 2022. In 2024, 69 cases were confirmed, exceeding the alert threshold starting in week 39. Since the beginning of 2025, the number of confirmed cases reported has been higher than expected.
“Effective communication strategies and practices for dengue and other arboviral diseases: Systematic review”
Published: 2024-12-17 – Document Number: PAHO/CDE/VT/24-0017
Editorial Comment: This work proposes to adopt a unified and coherent government approach to communication strategic and operational, involving partners and allies from the non-governmental sector. This involves defining and implement a system that guarantees the coherence of messages between the national government and the local health authorities, as well as developing content guides aimed at obtaining messages unified and define protocols for the release of public information in emergency situations health, such as the spread of dengue and other diseases caused by arboviruses. In summary, we are looking for comprehensive, coordinated and evidence-based communication to effectively confront the emergency of public health represented by arboviral diseases.
“The research and development landscape of mpox vaccines”.
Published: Lancet Infect Dis 2025 (February). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00115-X
Editorial comment: A concise summary of the three licensed mpox vaccines, the five currently in clinical development, and the fifteen in either the investigational new drug (IND) approval process or pre-IND stage. Additionally, an insightful overview of the various platforms and targets being utilized, ranging from attenuated vaccinia viruses and poxvirus-based approaches to mRNA and novel mpox-specific platforms.
