Innovations in Childhood Immunization: Vaccine Science, Hesitancy, and Global Equity

This chapter reviews the most significant recent developments in pediatric vaccinology, including the development and deployment of next-generation vaccines, advances in adjuvant technology, and the evolving immunological understanding of infant and childhood vaccine responses. It also critically examines the social and structural determinants of vaccine hesitancy, the impact of misinformation on immunization coverage, and the global equity challenges that continue to impede the realization of universal vaccination programs.