Journal of Immunization publishes rigorous immunization research that advances vaccine development, program delivery, and public health outcomes.

Follow these guidelines to ensure a smooth editorial review and production process.

Ensure your manuscript aligns with immunization science, vaccine policy, delivery systems, or related public health outcomes. Articles should present clear evidence that can inform clinical practice, program management, or policy decisions.

We welcome original research, reviews, implementation studies, and policy analyses. Brief reports are considered when they deliver urgent or high impact findings.

Prepare manuscripts with clear, consistent language and defined abbreviations. Provide structured abstracts and keywords that reflect vaccine type, target population, and study setting.

• Use structured abstracts with objectives, methods, results, and conclusions
• Ensure references are complete and include DOIs where available
• Describe vaccination schedules and outcome definitions clearly
• Report ethical approvals and informed consent procedures

Use standard section headings and ensure tables and figures are referenced in the text. Avoid excessive jargon and define technical terms when first used.

If your manuscript exceeds typical lengths, explain why the additional detail is necessary for interpreting immunization outcomes.

Titles should be specific and include key elements such as vaccine type, population, or study setting. Abstracts should highlight primary outcomes, study design, and relevance for immunization programs.

Avoid overly broad claims and ensure that conclusions reflect the data presented.

• STROBE for observational studies
• CONSORT for randomized trials
• PRISMA for systematic reviews
• CARE for case reports
• TREND for non randomized evaluations

• Include ethics approvals and informed consent statements
• Provide data availability statements and repository links
• Describe surveillance data governance and access permissions
• Document participant privacy safeguards and deidentification
• Report adverse event monitoring and safety oversight

If ethics approval was waived, provide the waiver rationale and the approving body. Include consent procedures or community approvals for program based studies.

Authorship should reflect significant intellectual contribution to study design, analysis, or writing. Provide a brief statement describing each author’s role and confirm that all authors approve the final manuscript.

List all funding sources, grant numbers, and institutional support. Disclose any conflicts of interest, including advisory roles or industry affiliations relevant to immunization work.

Acknowledge collaborators, program partners, or community stakeholders who supported the study but do not meet authorship criteria. Include acknowledgments for data access permissions or logistical support.

If figures, tables, or instruments are reproduced from other sources, obtain written permission and provide appropriate credit lines. Document permissions in the manuscript or supplementary files.

Clinical trials must include a registration identifier and registry name. If the study was registered after initiation, provide a justification and describe any protocol changes.

For vaccine studies, report the vaccine platform, dosing schedule, cold chain considerations, and immunogenicity endpoints. For program evaluations, describe delivery setting, coverage measurement, and equity considerations.

• Report vaccine type, manufacturer, and lot information when relevant
• Specify immunogenicity assays and time points
• Define case definitions for outcomes and adverse events
• Describe population risk factors and baseline immunity

Describe your study design clearly, including sampling strategy, comparison groups, and timelines. For observational studies, explain how exposure and outcome measures were defined and validated.

When evaluating program outcomes, outline the operational context, implementation steps, and any changes in service delivery during the study period.

Report immunogenicity assays with sufficient detail to support replication, including assay platform, calibration procedures, and quality control thresholds. Define serologic endpoints and provide baseline values when available.

For effectiveness studies, describe case definitions, follow up windows, and analytic methods used to account for confounding or prior immunity.

Clearly describe safety monitoring methods, adverse event definitions, and attribution approaches. When applicable, report serious adverse events separately and describe timelines for follow up and reporting.

Include a concise summary of safety oversight mechanisms such as data safety monitoring boards or independent review committees.

Implementation studies should describe delivery models, staffing, training, and supply chain conditions that may affect outcomes. Include details on community engagement, demand generation, and communication strategies when relevant.

Report indicators for coverage, timeliness, and equity, and explain how missing data were handled.

Provide a data availability statement and specify how deidentified datasets or code can be accessed. If data are restricted, describe the access process and governance requirements.

For models or analytic pipelines, report software versions and key parameters to facilitate reproducibility.

Cite datasets and code repositories using persistent identifiers whenever possible. Clear data citations help readers locate supporting materials and strengthen confidence in immunization evidence.

Use consistent terminology for vaccines, immunologic measures, and program indicators. Avoid ambiguous abbreviations and define all acronyms at first use.

Plain language summaries are helpful for broad audiences when available.

Clarity reduces reviewer queries.

Supplementary files should include detailed methods, extended data tables, or additional figures that support the main text. Label files clearly and reference them in the manuscript to guide readers.

Use the cover letter to summarize novelty, public health relevance, and any dataset restrictions. Highlight why the findings matter for immunization programs or vaccine policy.

Include any prior dissemination or preprint details for transparency.

State the intended article type to assist routing.

Note any ethical approvals or waivers briefly.

Mention key datasets or registries used.

When revisions are requested, provide a clear response letter addressing each reviewer comment. Indicate where changes were made in the manuscript to support efficient re review.

• Title page with author affiliations and corresponding author details
• Abstract and keywords
• Introduction describing program context and research gap
• Methods including vaccination schedules and study design
• Results with tables, figures, and statistical analysis
• Discussion highlighting policy or practice implications

If the manuscript has been posted as a preprint or presented at a conference, disclose this during submission. Prior dissemination does not preclude consideration, but transparency is required.

Provide high resolution figures and editable tables. Ensure all units and abbreviations are defined. Figures should be cited in order and include descriptive captions.

If figures include program maps or surveillance charts, include data source notes and time periods for clarity.

Discuss study limitations transparently and explain how they affect interpretation. Highlight strengths that reinforce the relevance of findings for immunization policy or practice.

Balanced discussion improves credibility with reviewers and readers.

JI is committed to rigorous, transparent publishing in immunization research and program evaluation. We emphasize reproducible methods, clear reporting of vaccine outcomes, and ethical compliance across all article types.

The editorial office supports authors, editors, and reviewers with clear guidance and responsive communication. For questions about scope or workflow, contact [email protected].

We encourage continuous improvement in reporting practices and share updates that help the community maintain high standards in vaccine science, safety monitoring, and public health impact.