Master in Vaccinology and Drug Development

20/02/2026

📊 New research published in JAMA Pediatrics highlights the impact of vaccine policy on childhood immunization rates.

The study shows that eliminating nonmedical vaccine exemptions (such as personal or philosophical exemptions) is associated with higher vaccination coverage among kindergarten-aged children. States that fully removed these exemptions experienced meaningful increases in coverage for key vaccines, including MMR, DTaP, hepatitis B, and polio.

🔍 Key findings:
States that eliminated all nonmedical exemptions saw higher vaccination rates compared with states that made no policy changes.

Increases in medical exemptions were minimal, suggesting limited substitution.
Partial policy changes had smaller and less sustained effects.

🛡️ Why it matters
As childhood vaccination rates decline in several regions, evidence-based policy decisions play a critical role in preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and strengthening community

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2840422?guestAccessKey=9a0659c9-0694-4495-bc95-3a40ada2b66a&utm_source=linkedin_company&utm_medium=social_jamapeds&utm_term=19181827018&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=894623655

18/02/2026

📲 Be part of our global community and stay up to date with the latest in vaccinology and drug development!

Follow us and connect with experts, students, and professionals around the world:
🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/master.in.vaccinology

🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/master-in-vaccinology-and-drug-development

🔹 X (Twitter): https://x.com/InVaccinology

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaccinology.drug.development

🌐 Learn more at www.ifgh.org

11/02/2026

Women in Science Day | February 11 👩‍🔬✨

Today, we celebrate the women whose curiosity, leadership, and dedication drive scientific discovery forward—especially in vaccinology and drug development.

From laboratory research to global health policy, women scientists play a vital role in advancing innovation, equity, and evidence-based solutions that protect lives worldwide.

At the Master in Vaccinology and Drug Development, we recognize and support the impact of women shaping the future of immunization and public health.

ifgh.org

06/02/2026

🌍💉 Vaccination is a lifelong investment in health

According to the World Health Organization, unlocking the full potential of immunization requires a life-course approach—protecting people not only in childhood, but throughout adolescence, adulthood, and older age.

As populations age, adult immunization becomes essential to support healthy aging, reduce preventable disease, and strengthen health systems worldwide.

📊 Expanding vaccination across all ages delivers powerful health, social, and economic benefits, reinforcing resilience at both individual and community levels.

🔗 ifgh.org

03/02/2026

🧬 50 Years of Immunization. 154 Million Lives Saved 💉

A WHO-led study shows that global immunization efforts have saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years— the equivalent of 6 lives saved every minute, every year.

👶 More than 101 million of these lives were infants under one year of age, highlighting the critical role vaccines play from the very start of life.

💪 Measles vaccination alone accounts for nearly 60% of all lives saved, demonstrating the extraordinary impact of sustained vaccination programs.

This milestone reinforces why vaccinology and drug development remain central to global public health — and why continued education, research, and innovation in this field are essential to protect future generations.

🔗 Read more: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2024-global-immunization-efforts-have-saved-at-least-154-million-lives-over-the-past-50-years

30/01/2026

🌍 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day | Leaving No One Behind

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable and underserved communities.

From vaccines and medicines to diagnostics and implementation strategies, science and innovation play a critical role in preventing, controlling, and ultimately eliminating NTDs. Progress is possible — but only through sustained investment, research, and global collaboration.

On World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, we reaffirm the importance of advancing vaccinology and drug development to close equity gaps and ensure that no disease — and no population — is neglected.

ifgh.org

29/01/2026

For years, the Master in Vaccinology and Drug Development has helped shape the global vaccinology workforce.

Through rigorous academic standards, international collaboration, and real-world impact, the program has trained professionals who now contribute to immunization programs, vaccine development, and public health decision-making worldwide.

Its sustained excellence reflects a long-standing commitment to evidence-based science and global health leadership.

🔗 Learn more about us:
https://ifgh.org/educational-programs/master-in-vaccinology-and-drug-development/

27/01/2026

Remembering Bill Foege — a true public health hero

William “Bill” Foege, MD, legendary epidemiologist credited with developing the ring vaccination strategy that helped eradicate smallpox, has died at 89. He led global health efforts at the CDC, WHO, UNICEF and co-founded the Task Force for Global Health. His work expanded childhood immunizations worldwide and shaped modern public health practice.

🌍 From smallpox eradication to fighting HIV and improving vaccine access, Foege’s legacy of science in the service of humanity will continue to inspire public health leaders everywhere.

🕊️ Thank you, Dr. Foege.

27/01/2026

📢 New NEJM Evidence: High-Dose Flu Vaccine & Hospitalizations in Older Adults

A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine evaluated whether a high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine could better prevent hospitalizations from influenza or pneumonia compared to the standard-dose vaccine among adults 65–79 years old.

🔬 Key results: In this large, registry-based, randomized trial in Spain, people aged 65–79 who received the high-dose vaccine had fewer hospitalizations for influenza or pneumonia than those who received the standard dose.

📊 Although hospitalizations were rare overall, the relative effectiveness against combined influenza/pneumonia hospital admissions was notable—and serious adverse events were similarly low in both groups.

💡 Why it matters:
• Influenza remains a major cause of severe illness in older adults.
• Optimizing vaccine strategies—like using high-dose formulations—could help reduce severe outcomes and lighten the burden on health systems during flu seasons.
• These findings support evidence-based decisions on influenza immunization in older populations.

🔗 Read the full article 👉 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2509834

22/01/2026

📊 New Evidence on RSV Prevention in Newborns

A recent JAMA study compares two strategies to prevent RSV-related hospitalizations in infants: maternal vaccination with the RSVpreF vaccine vs passive infant immunization with nirsevimab.

👶 Key finding: Nirsevimab given directly to infants was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization for RSV, as well as fewer severe outcomes—including admissions to intensive care and need for ventilator support—than maternal RSVpreF vaccination.

💉 RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) continues to be a leading cause of lower respiratory infections and hospital admissions in young infants. These results provide valuable real-world evidence on the comparative effectiveness of immunization strategies during the first RSV season.

🔍 Why it matters: As new preventive options become available, understanding which approaches offer the greatest protection can inform clinical decisions, public health strategies, and future research.

🔗 Read the full study 👉 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2843212

This population-based study used data from the French National Health Data System to compare risk associations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)–related infant hospitalization and other outcomes after use of maternal vaccination with the respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F protein (RSVpreF...

20/01/2026

📘 New Review in The Lancet Infectious Diseases: Tetanus—Recognition and Management

A comprehensive review published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases summarizes the latest evidence on tetanus, a vaccine-preventable but still deadly infectious disease that continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world.

🔎 This article covers

• Global epidemiology and the impact of vaccination on tetanus cases, including dramatic reductions in deaths over recent decades.

• Clinical features and complications caused by Clostridium tetani toxin.
• Diagnosis and differential clinical recognition.

• Management principles, from antitoxin therapy and antibiotics to supportive care.

💉 Despite progress, tetanus remains a public-health concern—especially where vaccination coverage is low—and highlights the ongoing need for high routine immunization rates and sustained public health efforts.

🔗 Read the full review 👉 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS1473-3099(25)00292-0/abstract