In our “Coffee with the Expert” section, Dr. Montserrat Arroyo Kuribreña serves as Deputy Director General for Standards Setting and Implementation of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). A veterinarian with a Master’s degree in Preventive Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis, she is internationally recognized for her expertise in animal health, zoonoses, and the One Health approach. Throughout her career, she has focused on transboundary animal disease prevention, veterinary public health, international trade, and strengthening veterinary services. At WOAH, she leads global efforts to develop and implement international animal health standards, advancing preparedness and international collaboration against emerging zoonotic and public health threats.
Our conversation with Dr. Arroyo Kuribreña offered a compelling One Health perspective on the increasingly critical role of animal vaccination in global health. Reflecting on her journey from veterinary medicine to senior leadership at WOAH, she emphasized that animal vaccines are not only vital for livestock health and productivity, but also indispensable tools for preventing zoonotic spillover events that can trigger human outbreaks and future pandemics. She underscored how stronger animal health systems contribute directly to reducing infectious diseases in humans, improving food security, enhancing climate resilience, and lowering antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Arroyo also highlighted the urgent need for greater global investment, stronger political commitment, and broader implementation of animal vaccination programs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the human–animal interface is often most vulnerable.
In our “Editor’s Corner” section, we examine “Aluminum Adjuvants in Vaccines: Evidence-Based Safety in the Context of Routine Dietary Aluminum Exposure.” This article reviews the extensive scientific evidence supporting the safety and importance of aluminum adjuvants, which have been used effectively in vaccines for decades to enhance immune responses. We also place vaccine-related aluminum exposure into perspective by comparing it with the much greater everyday exposure from food, water, infant formula, and the environment, reinforcing that the small amounts used in vaccines are highly regulated, biologically manageable, and supported by a strong body of safety data.
In our “Best Practice” section, we review the critical role of vaccination in adults with chronic pulmonary diseases, highlighting how immunization can significantly reduce respiratory infections, exacerbations, hospitalizations, and mortality in this highly vulnerable population.
Finally, in our “Guest Contributor” section, Dr. Jessabelle Basa, MSc, an internationally recognized immunologist and vaccinologist from the Philippines, currently serves as Regional Technical Lead for ASEAN at the Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative (RVMC), where she contributes to advancing regional vaccine manufacturing capacity and preparedness, provides valuable insights into the strategic interventions needed to develop and strengthen the ASEAN region’s regionalized vaccine manufacturing ecosystem, advancing vaccine security, sustainability, and regional preparedness.
As always, this issue features carefully curated and up-to-date information on the “Latest Scientific Publication”’ along with the most recent and important “News and Alerts”.
We hope you find this May issue both informative and engaging, and we look forward to continuing this shared commitment to advancing global health and building a healthier planet.
