Aims & Scope
Journal of Immunization publishes rigorous research advancing vaccine science, immunological mechanisms, and evidence-based immunization strategies across human and veterinary medicine.
Vaccine Development
Immunological Mechanisms
Immunization Policy
Vaccine Safety & Efficacy
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Core Research Domains
Vaccine Science & Technology
- Novel vaccine platforms (mRNA, viral vectors, nanoparticle-based)
- Vaccine formulation and stability optimization
- Adjuvant development and mechanisms of action
- Delivery systems and administration routes
- Production, manufacturing, and quality control
- Vaccine storage and cold chain innovations
Typical Fit:
A study evaluating a novel lipid nanoparticle formulation for thermostable mRNA vaccines, with preclinical efficacy data and stability testing under varied temperature conditions.
Immunological Mechanisms
- Cellular and humoral immune responses to vaccines
- Innate and adaptive immunity in vaccination contexts
- Immunological memory and long-term protection
- Immune evasion strategies of pathogens
- Molecular signaling pathways in vaccine responses
- Biomarkers of vaccine immunogenicity
Typical Fit:
Research characterizing T-cell epitopes in a candidate tuberculosis vaccine, demonstrating durable memory responses in animal models with mechanistic insights into CD4+ and CD8+ activation.
Clinical Vaccinology
- Phase I-IV vaccine clinical trials
- Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness studies
- Safety surveillance and adverse event monitoring
- Immunization in special populations (pregnant women, immunocompromised, elderly)
- Vaccine schedules and booster strategies
- Correlates of protection research
Typical Fit:
A randomized controlled trial assessing the immunogenicity and safety of a heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccination regimen in adults over 65, with serological and cellular immune response data.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
- Viral vaccines (influenza, measles, HPV, hepatitis, polio, etc.)
- Bacterial vaccines (pneumococcal, meningococcal, pertussis, etc.)
- Emerging infectious disease vaccines (Ebola, Zika, SARS-CoV-2)
- Therapeutic vaccines for chronic infections (HIV, HCV, HSV)
- Cancer immunotherapy and therapeutic vaccination
- Veterinary vaccines and zoonotic disease prevention
Typical Fit:
An epidemiological study evaluating the real-world effectiveness of quadrivalent influenza vaccine across multiple seasons, with strain-specific protection estimates and waning immunity analysis.
Secondary Focus Areas
Immunization Policy & Public Health
- Vaccination coverage and uptake studies
- Health economics and cost-effectiveness analyses
- Vaccine hesitancy and behavioral interventions
- Immunization program implementation and evaluation
- Global health equity in vaccine access
- Regulatory science and vaccine approval pathways
Methodological Innovations
- AI/machine learning for vaccine design and prediction
- Systems immunology and multi-omics approaches
- Novel animal models for vaccine testing
- Advanced immunoassays and diagnostic tools
- Computational modeling of immune responses
- High-throughput screening platforms
Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Microbial pathogenesis relevant to vaccine targets
- Antigenic variation and immune escape
- Mucosal immunity and barrier protection
- Microbiome influences on vaccine responses
- Cross-reactive immunity and heterologous protection
Special Topics
- Travel medicine and destination-specific vaccines
- Occupational health immunization strategies
- Vaccines in pregnancy and maternal immunization
- Pediatric and adolescent vaccination
- Adult and geriatric immunization
- Immunization in conflict and humanitarian settings
Emerging Research Frontiers
Next-Generation Platforms
- Self-amplifying RNA vaccines
- Plant-based vaccine production systems
- Microneedle and needle-free delivery
- Oral and intranasal vaccine formulations
- Personalized and precision vaccines
Universal Vaccines
- Broadly protective influenza vaccines
- Pan-coronavirus vaccine strategies
- Universal bacterial vaccines
- Cross-protective antigen discovery
Immunomodulation
- Trained immunity and innate immune memory
- Reverse vaccinology and structural vaccinology
- Immune checkpoint modulation in vaccines
- Tolerance induction strategies
Editorial Review Note:
Submissions in emerging areas undergo additional editorial assessment to ensure sufficient methodological rigor and translational relevance. Preliminary or highly speculative work may be redirected to specialized forums.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Fast-Track
Priority 1
- Original Research Articles
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
- Clinical Trial Reports
- Methods & Protocols
- Vaccine Technology Innovations
Standard Review
Priority 2
- Short Communications
- Data Notes
- Perspectives & Commentaries
- Policy Analyses
- Technical Reports
Selective
Rarely Considered
- Opinion Pieces (by invitation)
- Letters to the Editor
- Book Reviews
- Conference Abstracts
- Editorials (by invitation)
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must adhere to discipline-specific reporting standards to ensure transparency and reproducibility.
CONSORT
STROBE
PRISMA
ARRIVE
SPIRIT
Data Availability
Authors must provide access to underlying data supporting their findings. Raw datasets, code, and protocols should be deposited in recognized repositories (GenBank, ClinicalTrials.gov, Zenodo, etc.) with persistent identifiers.
Ethics & Compliance
Human studies require IRB/ethics committee approval. Animal research must comply with ARRIVE guidelines and institutional animal care protocols. Clinical trials must be prospectively registered.
Preprint Policy
We welcome submissions previously posted on preprint servers (bioRxiv, medRxiv, SSRN). Authors must disclose preprint DOI and update preprint records upon publication.
Editorial Decision Metrics
21
Days to First Decision
55%
Acceptance Rate
45
Days to Publication
Open
Access Model
