• Safe in Pregnancy and Children

Up-to-date evidence-based information on emerging vaccines in pregnancy and childhood

COVID 19
Chikungunya
Mpox
Lassa Fever
Disease X
  • COVID-19 Vaccines for Pregnant Persons

A regularly updated, comprehensive database and synthesis of published literature related to COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy through a living systematic review and meta-analyses.

COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard
PROSPERO Protocol

dash Pregnant persons pregnant

Pairwise Meta Analyses
Summary of Findings
Proportional Meta Analyses
Quality Assessment
Summary Tables
PRISMA Flow Diagram

Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-008443)

Vaccine vial
Why is this relevant?

600+ million infections and over 6.5 million deaths have been recorded globally, with significant regional variations in case fatality rates.

Approximately 20–30% of hospitalized patients develop severe respiratory distress and multi‐organ complications.

Widely deployed mRNA and vector vaccines have markedly reduced severe outcomes, though booster campaigns remain crucial.

Pregnant individuals face a 2–3× higher risk of severe illness and preterm birth, while children, despite generally milder symptoms, can develop Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS‑C).

mosquito Aedes aegypti
Mother children chikungunya
  • CHIKUNGUNYA Vaccines for Pregnant Persons and Children

A continuously updated, thorough compilation and analysis of published and unpublished literature concerning Chikungunya vaccines during pregnancy and childhood through a living systematic review and meta-analyses.

Chikungunya Vaccine Dashboard
PROSPERO Protocols

dash Pregnant persons pregnant dash Children and adolescents boys

Pairwise and Proportional Meta Analyses
PRISMA Flow Diagram
Summary of Findings
Quality Assessment

Supported by the Safety Platform for Emergency vACcines (SPEAC), Task Force for Global Health, Inc. – The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Why is this relevant?

Outbreaks have affected millions worldwide, with up to 70–80% of cases reporting debilitating joint pain and potential long-term arthritic symptoms.

Transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, the virus has a strong epidemic potential in tropical and subtropical regions.

Vaccines offer hope for preventing this debilitating disease

Maternal infections may lead to preterm labor and neonatal complications, while children can experience prolonged recovery periods impacting daily life

  • MPOX Vaccines for Pregnant Persons and Children

An ongoing, comprehensive review and analysis of published literature on safety, efficacy, effectiveness and immunogenicity of Mpox vaccines during pregnancy and childhood, utilizing a living systematic review and meta-analysis approach.

Mpox Vaccine Dashboard
PROSPERO Protocols

dash Pregnant persons pregnant dash Children and adolescents boys

Pairwise and Proportional Meta Analyses
PRISMA Flow Diagram
Summary of Findings
Quality Assessment

Supported by the Safety Platform for Emergency vACcines (SPEAC), Task Force for Global Health, Inc. – The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Monkeypox lesions in the thigh of Asian, Burmese Child
mpox vaccination
Why is this relevant?

Recent outbreaks have yielded over 80,000 confirmed cases, with a mortality rate generally below 1% in non-endemic regions.

Transmission occurs via close contact with infected lesions, body fluids, and respiratory droplets, complicating outbreak control.

Smallpox vaccines offer notable cross-protection, although new MPOX‑specific vaccines are under development.

Pregnant individuals are at increased risk for miscarriage and fetal complications, and pediatric cases may be more severe due to an immature immune response.

Boy showing younger brother plaster on arm
woman baby Kenya
  • LASSA FEVER Vaccines for Pregnant Persons and Children

An ongoing, comprehensive collection and examination of published and unpublished literature on Chikungunya vaccines during pregnancy and childhood, with regular updates through a living systematic review and meta-analyses.

Lassa Fever Vaccine Dashboard
PROSPERO Protocols

dash Pregnant persons pregnant dash Children and adolescents boys

Pairwise Meta Analyses
Summary of Findings
Proportional Meta Analyses
Quality Assessment
Summary Table
PRISMA Flow Diagram

Supported by the Safety Platform for Emergency vACcines (SPEAC), Task Force for Global Health, Inc. – The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Why is this relevant?

Lassa fever causes 100,000–300,000 infections and approximately 5,000 deaths annually in West Africa, with a 15% case fatality rate among hospitalized patients. It spreads primarily from Mastomys natalensis rats through their excreta, and global travel heightens the risk of cases being exported beyond endemic regions.

About 20% of Lassa fever cases progress to severe conditions, such as hemorrhagic fever and multi-organ failure. Currently, there is no approved vaccine, and the antiviral drug ribavirin offers limited effectiveness, highlighting the critical need for better preventive measures.

Vaccines protect high-risk groups, prevent zoonotic spillover from rats to humans, and stop human-to-human transmission. Promising vaccine candidates, such as those based on DNA or viral vectors, are in development but still require improvements in efficacy, safety, and scalability for widespread use in resource-limited areas.

Pregnant individuals face an over 80% maternal and fetal mortality rate in late pregnancy, while children and adolescents suffer higher rates of severe disease. The disease disproportionately affects impoverished communities and conflict zones, and climate change is expanding Mastomys rat habitats, increasing human exposure risks.

vaccine vial disease x
Woman and man doctors
  • Disease X

Disease X is the name given by scientists to an unknown pathogen that could emerge in future and cause a serious international epidemic or pandemic. Disease X is included in the WHO’s updated Blueprint list of diseases for which investing in research and development should be an international
priority. It is also a priority for CEPI’s research and development investments.

Our living systematic review will provide up-to-date information on platforms and components
of vaccines used in pregnancy and childhood which could potentially be adapted to develop
new vaccines against Disease X. We will also be ready to rapidly deploy a living systematic
review of future vaccines against Disease X to protect pregnant people and children.

Why is this relevant?

Represents a hypothetical infectious threat with potential for rapid global spread and high attack rates in a naïve population.

Ongoing efforts aim to develop platform vaccines and broad‐spectrum antivirals to mitigate severe outcomes once an outbreak emerges.

Vulnerable groups, including pregnant individuals and children, may experience disproportionately high rates of maternal and pediatric complications, underscoring the urgency for proactive research and preparedness.

  • Contact Us

Get In Touch with Us

Andrea Meyer

Director of Global Health Research

  • Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
  • ameyer1@tulane.edu