MRC/Wits Vaccines & Infectious Disease Analytics (VIDA)

MRC/Wits Vaccines & Infectious Disease Analytics (VIDA) is a South Africa based research unit established through a partnership between the South African Medical Research Council and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. It operates as an academic public health research center focused on vaccines, infectious diseases, and epidemiological analytics, with strong integration into national and global health networks.

The publication portfolio highlights leadership in maternal and neonatal immunization, respiratory virus surveillance, tuberculosis interventions, and genomic studies of invasive bacterial pathogens. Work on RSV, SARS CoV 2, influenza, measles immunity, and Klebsiella pneumoniae demonstrates strength in clinical epidemiology, vaccine impact evaluation, and molecular surveillance, particularly in African child health contexts.

Research also addresses behavioral and health systems barriers to vaccine uptake, climate related maternal risks, and innovative TB care strategies using counseling and conditional incentives. Through multicountry collaborations and surveillance platforms, VIDA advances evidence based policy, strengthens vaccine programs, and shapes global responses to emerging infectious threats.