Vaccine Research Trends in Africa from 2016 to Mid-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis
Background: Vaccine research publications play a crucial role in the scientific process by strategically linking the generation of knowledge with its translation into vaccine policy and practice. This study was designed to understand vaccine and immunization research publication trends in Africa to...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/5/509 |
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| author | Chinwe Iwu-Jaja Duduzile Ndwandwe Thobile Malinga Lindi Mathebula Akhona Mazingisa Charles Shey Wiysonge |
| author_facet | Chinwe Iwu-Jaja Duduzile Ndwandwe Thobile Malinga Lindi Mathebula Akhona Mazingisa Charles Shey Wiysonge |
| author_sort | Chinwe Iwu-Jaja |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Vaccine research publications play a crucial role in the scientific process by strategically linking the generation of knowledge with its translation into vaccine policy and practice. This study was designed to understand vaccine and immunization research publication trends in Africa to inform strategic directions for vaccine research and innovation efforts in the continent. Methods: We searched PubMed only for vaccine and immunization-related publications from Africa between 1 January 2016 and 8 August 2024. Metrics such as annual growth rates, geographical distribution, international collaboration, and trend topics were analyzed. We conducted separate analyses for general vaccine research, vaccine clinical trials, and vaccine evidence syntheses (systematic reviews and meta-analyses). Results: Vaccine research in Africa demonstrated an annual growth rate of 55.4% (based on the 10,000 records retrieved due to PubMed’s export limit), while vaccine trials saw a decline of 6.08% during the study period. The trend topics analysis across vaccine research, trials, and reviews showed that topics shifted from a focus on general vaccine development, immunization, and malaria pre-2020 to COVID-19-related topics in 2020, with post-2020 research returning to traditional topics like immunization schedules, vaccine safety, and pediatric and maternal vaccines. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on vaccine research, leading to a surge in publications for vaccine research, trials, and reviews. About 65.8% of vaccine research featured international co-authorship. Vaccine trials had a higher rate of international co-authorship at 79.8%. Conclusion: While vaccine research in general in Africa has increased, vaccine trials do not match this increase. The number of clinical trials remained relatively stagnant, reflecting ongoing challenges in the vaccine research ecosystem, particularly in building and sustaining clinical trial capacity across the region. In addition, disparities in research productivity exist between countries. Research prioritization, strategic collaborations, capacity building for research, and improved research infrastructure require critical consideration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0daeaa9fcfb64f7f8d1000205a57320e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj-art-0daeaa9fcfb64f7f8d1000205a57320e2025-08-20T02:33:55ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-05-0113550910.3390/vaccines13050509Vaccine Research Trends in Africa from 2016 to Mid-2024: A Bibliometric AnalysisChinwe Iwu-Jaja0Duduzile Ndwandwe1Thobile Malinga2Lindi Mathebula3Akhona Mazingisa4Charles Shey Wiysonge5Vaccine Preventable Diseases Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville P.O. Box 06, CongoCochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South AfricaCochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South AfricaCochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South AfricaDepartment of Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South AfricaVaccine Preventable Diseases Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville P.O. Box 06, CongoBackground: Vaccine research publications play a crucial role in the scientific process by strategically linking the generation of knowledge with its translation into vaccine policy and practice. This study was designed to understand vaccine and immunization research publication trends in Africa to inform strategic directions for vaccine research and innovation efforts in the continent. Methods: We searched PubMed only for vaccine and immunization-related publications from Africa between 1 January 2016 and 8 August 2024. Metrics such as annual growth rates, geographical distribution, international collaboration, and trend topics were analyzed. We conducted separate analyses for general vaccine research, vaccine clinical trials, and vaccine evidence syntheses (systematic reviews and meta-analyses). Results: Vaccine research in Africa demonstrated an annual growth rate of 55.4% (based on the 10,000 records retrieved due to PubMed’s export limit), while vaccine trials saw a decline of 6.08% during the study period. The trend topics analysis across vaccine research, trials, and reviews showed that topics shifted from a focus on general vaccine development, immunization, and malaria pre-2020 to COVID-19-related topics in 2020, with post-2020 research returning to traditional topics like immunization schedules, vaccine safety, and pediatric and maternal vaccines. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on vaccine research, leading to a surge in publications for vaccine research, trials, and reviews. About 65.8% of vaccine research featured international co-authorship. Vaccine trials had a higher rate of international co-authorship at 79.8%. Conclusion: While vaccine research in general in Africa has increased, vaccine trials do not match this increase. The number of clinical trials remained relatively stagnant, reflecting ongoing challenges in the vaccine research ecosystem, particularly in building and sustaining clinical trial capacity across the region. In addition, disparities in research productivity exist between countries. Research prioritization, strategic collaborations, capacity building for research, and improved research infrastructure require critical consideration.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/5/509vaccineimmunizationvaccine trialsvaccine reviewsresearchinnovation |
| spellingShingle | Chinwe Iwu-Jaja Duduzile Ndwandwe Thobile Malinga Lindi Mathebula Akhona Mazingisa Charles Shey Wiysonge Vaccine Research Trends in Africa from 2016 to Mid-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis Vaccines vaccine immunization vaccine trials vaccine reviews research innovation |
| title | Vaccine Research Trends in Africa from 2016 to Mid-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis |
| title_full | Vaccine Research Trends in Africa from 2016 to Mid-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Vaccine Research Trends in Africa from 2016 to Mid-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vaccine Research Trends in Africa from 2016 to Mid-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis |
| title_short | Vaccine Research Trends in Africa from 2016 to Mid-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis |
| title_sort | vaccine research trends in africa from 2016 to mid 2024 a bibliometric analysis |
| topic | vaccine immunization vaccine trials vaccine reviews research innovation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/5/509 |
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