Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41295511›Full record

ReviewVaccines2025

Mapping Eight Decades of Vaccination Social Science: Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends.

Chinwe Iwu-Jaja, Oluwatosin Nkereuwem, Chidozie D Iwu, Akhona V Mazingisa, Anelisa Jaca, Duduzile Ndwandwe, Charles S Wiysonge

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Vaccines, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Chinwe Iwu-JajaWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville P.O. Box 06, Congo.ORCID 0000-0003-0765-7497
Oluwatosin NkereuwemMedical Research Council Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul P.O. Box 273, The Gambia.
Chidozie D IwuSchool of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0001-5721-6425
Akhona V MazingisaDepartment of Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
Anelisa JacaCochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Cape Town 7505, South Africa.
Duduzile NdwandweCochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Cape Town 7505, South Africa.
Charles S WiysongeWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville P.O. Box 06, Congo.ORCID 0000-0002-1273-4779

Funding

Biostatistics, Epidemiologic & Bioinformatic Training in Environmental HealthT32ES015459 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI June T. Spector · 2009 to 2026
$10.6M
NIEHS NIH HHS T32 ES015459World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite growing recognition of vaccination social science as essential to immunization strategies, the field's evolution, geographic distribution, and research patterns remain poorly characterized. This study provides the first comprehensive mapping of the social science literature on vaccination over eight decades.

methodsWe conducted a bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed publications indexed in PubMed from their inception, using a systematic search strategy that combined vaccination and social science terms. Publications were analyzed using the Bibliometrix R package (version 5.0) to examine temporal trends, author productivity, institutional contributions, geographic distribution, and thematic evolution globally.

resultsWe retrieved 8005 eligible publications. Analysis highlighted three chronological research phases: sporadic early work (1945-1980,

conclusionsVaccination social science has grown steadily over the decades, with a sharp rise in research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most studies were from high-income countries, underscoring the need for enhanced social science capacity in low- and middle-income countries. As the focus of immunization efforts shifts toward issues like vaccine hesitancy and trust, broader collaboration and inclusion will be key to improving vaccine uptake worldwide.

Indexed as

bibliometric analysisCOVID-19global healthhealth equityresearch trendssocial sciencevaccinationvaccine hesitancy

Identifiers

PMID41295511
PMCPMC12656872

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.