Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Approximately 170 kilometres east of Mali’s capital, Bamako, in isolated Bananido village in Barouéli health district, bursts of laughter and applause capture the attention of passers-by. Unconventional scenes are being enacted for an audience beneath the large neem tree in the public square. The performance taking place is not solely a form of local entertainment, however – it is a public health intervention.

At a glance A comprehensive review of evidence from laboratory research, clinical trials and real-world studies has confirmed that mRNA-based vaccines are safe and effective, while highlighting their potential to prevent a growing number of infectious diseases, and treat other health conditions in the years to come. It concluded that serious adverse events were rare and substantially outweighed by protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death.

In a typical year, scientists discover two or three viruses that have never been seen in people before. The number fluctuates, but the trend has been fairly steady since the 1960s. Most of these viruses attract little attention, and my colleagues and I have often had to search through old medical papers to find any mention of them. Some viruses disappear entirely and are all but forgotten.

Le Conseil d’administration approuve la poursuite d’objectifs ambitieux pour Gavi 6.0, notamment atteindre 500 millions d’enfants, éviter 8 à 9 millions de décès et réduire la mortalité d’encore 10 % chez les moins de 5 ans. Les décisions programmatiques signalent un engagement pour le leadership des pays et un soutien aux contextes fragiles et humanitaires.

At a glance H3N2 subclade K flu is a variation of a human seasonal flu virus that emerged towards the end of the southern hemisphere’s 2025 flu season. Its rapid accumulation of mutations sparked concerns that it might evade existing immunity and vaccines. However, a study of blood samples from 243 individuals of different ages suggested most participants already had antibodies capable of recognising subclade K, and the 2025–2026 flu vaccine further boosted their immune responses.

At a glance Almost a third of children in Ebonyi State, Nigeria are stunted from malnutrition. Nutritionist Akinade Ogunniyi decided to do something about that, and established Healthy Mama, Healthy Pikin – a programme that uses the opportunity that child immunisation days present to teach families about better nutrition. Parents not only learn about good nutrition, but try their hand at local, affordable, nutrient-dense recipes – and even take home seeds to plant in their gardens.

Artificial intelligence doesn’t have a great reputation for veracity. Social media abounds with AI-generated concoctions, from cute images of fake animals in fabricated settings to violent videos depicting imaginary destruction in the Middle East. AI has been used to create fake social media accounts that spew Russian government propaganda and to generate clickbait and misinformation for content farm sites that exist solely to collect ad revenue.

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Reaching zero-dose children requires technical support that adapts to local constraints. Yet global assistance is often designed as a uniform package applied everywhere. Barriers differ across contexts, yet technical assistance is still frequently designed with one-size-fits-all solutions. The Zero-Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) (2022–2026) offered a different model. Technical assistance was treated as a bottom-up, demand-driven partnership designed to adapt to context and move evidence into action.

At a glance Zambia is training up a decentralised network of technicians to maintain and repair solar-powered fridges, so that health centres have someone local to call when the all-important vaccine fridge goes on the blink. Health workers and parents alike describe the new initiative as a relief. In the past, remote health centres could wait weeks or months for an expert to be dispatched from the capital – a wait that could cost local children vital protection.