IJGO publishes a special section on vaccinations and women’s reproductive health
The International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics (IJGO) is thrilled to announce that its latest special section, Vaccinations and Women’s Reproductive Health, was published in its July 2023 issue. It is free to read for a limited period.
The articles in the Vaccinations and Women’s Reproductive Health special section highlight the importance of access to safe and effective vaccines to reduce morbidity and mortality among women, particularly in low- and middle- income countries.
Most vaccination programmes specifically target infants and young children; however, there has been a recent increase in use of vaccines in adolescents and adults, especially in women.
– Clare Cutland, guest editor for the Vaccinations and Women’s Reproductive Health Special Section
This special section explores a wide range of key topics related to vaccinations, including:
- Combatting vaccine-preventable human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer, with a focus on the need to reach marginalised populations around the globe.
- Maternal immunisation and its role in improving outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women, as they are at higher risk of developing severe complications from infectious diseases than their non-pregnant counterparts.
- The importance of healthcare provider education, vaccination advisories, and improvement of vaccination logistics to improve the accessibility to and acceptance of vaccines by women.
Immunisation: a crucial component of reproductive health care
The special section is clear in its overall message:
Immunising pregnant and non-pregnant women is a crucial component of reproductive health care worldwide. It is imperative that pregnant and non-pregnant women be priority populations for research involving interventions against vaccine-preventable diseases.
– Dr Geeta Swamy, guest editor for the Vaccinations and Women’s Reproductive Health Special Section
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the importance of access to safe and effective vaccines to the forefront of global healthcare policy, but this must be extended to combat other vaccine-preventable diseases that affect women and girls.