The Vaccine Center has led and revolutionized national and international efforts in solving emerging pandemics, neglected tropical diseases, and other threats to global health. Our researchers are world leaders in infectious disease research and translating those discoveries to real-world solutions. In addition, we are actively involved in science communications and public outreach in several national and international advocacy, diplomacy, and educational initiatives and partnerships to jointly develop and build capacity for new vaccines globally.
Participation in CDC’s New Vaccine Surveillance Network
The New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) comprises seven children’s hospitals across the United States. NVSN was created to evaluate the effectiveness of current vaccines and to gather information about diseases for which vaccines are under development and may soon be available.
The Immunization Project has conducted surveillance for acute gastroenteritis since 2007. The primary objectives of the NVSN’s surveillance for gastroenteritis are to evaluate the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in clinical practice and to determine the burden of gastrointestinal pathogens in children with diarrhea and vomiting who seek care in the outpatient, ED, or inpatient settings. Fecal specimens are collected and information about prior vaccine receipt, including for rotavirus vaccine, is obtained from enrolled children. To date, over 5,000 children have been enrolled; the information gathered by NVSN has been used to inform national and international rotavirus vaccine recommendations.
In November 2015, surveillance was expanded to include children with respiratory illnesses. Respiratory samples are collected and tested a variety of viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens, including influenza. This surveillance was funded to provide information about the effectiveness of influenza vaccine in hospitalized children and also to evaluate the contribution of other respiratory pathogens, including RSV, to pediatric hospitalizations. To date, over 3,000 children have been enrolled.
In March 2024, our network released a Morbidity and Mortality Report (MMWR) through the CDC, which estimated the effectiveness of the newly-released monoclonal antibody, Nirsevimab, against RSV during the 2023-24 RSV season.