Welcome to Vaccines Beat 17th issue!
We are pleased to welcome Pfizer as a new sponsor of Vaccines Beat. Their trust and support strengthens our mission to share credible information, promote scientific dialogue, and highlight global efforts in immunization. We appreciate their commitment to advancing public health and look forward to continue providing valuable insights for our readers and partners.
In our Coffee with an Expert section, we had the honor of speaking with Professor Dr. Robert Cohen, a leading pediatric infectious diseases specialist at the Intermunicipal Hospital of Créteil, France. A graduate of the University of Paris VII, Dr. Cohen has served as President of the French Group of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (GPIP), the Conseil National Professionnel de Pédiatrie, and is the Scientific Director of ACTIV, a renowned research institute on community-acquired infections in children. He also directs InfoVac-France, a national vaccine information network for healthcare professionals, and serves as an expert advisor to both French and European medicinal agencies.
Author of over 450 scientific publications, Dr. Cohen shared insights on the epidemiology and management of acute otitis media, streptococcal pharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, meningitis, and vaccine development, particularly regarding the evolving serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae following the introduction of higher-valent conjugate vaccines, with emphasis on strengthening active surveillance—beginning at the physician level and enhanced through excellence in molecular diagnostics.
In this edition’s Editor’s Corner, we delve into “Tuberculosis: The Never-Ending Epidemic — Current Control Strategies, the Central Role of Next-Generation Vaccines, and Future Pathways Toward Elimination Through Global Equity and Sustainable Investment.” This feature examines the immense global impact of tuberculosis, the limitations of the century-old BCG vaccine, and the evolving landscape of next-generation vaccine candidates—currently encompassing 16 in development—along with their mycobacterial antigen targets.
Our Best Practice section features “Japanese Encephalitis: Vaccination Strategies and Recommendations,” providing an overview of this arboviral disease—its epidemiology, available vaccines, and current immunization guidelines for both endemic regions and travelers.
Finally, in our Guest Contributor section, we are honored to feature an insightful editorial by Dr. María Luisa Ávila Agüero, a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist, former Minister of Health of Costa Rica, and Past President of the Latin American Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SLIPE). She is also a distinguished member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine of Costa Rica. In her piece, Dr. Ávila eloquently addresses the growing concern over the resurgence of pertussis in Latin America and worldwide exploring its underlying causes and underscoring the urgent need to strengthen better surveillance and vaccination coverage across all populations.
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 November issue both informative and engaging, and we look forward to continuing this shared commitment to advancing global health and building a healthier planet.
