Dr. Andrea Hugo

Andrea Hugo is a clinical researcher in maternal and infant infectious diseases, closely associated with influenza vaccine trials conducted in South Africa and in multicountry collaborations across Africa and Asia. Her work appears in leading medical journals and centers on advancing evidence for maternal immunization, particularly among women living with HIV and other high-risk populations.

Her publications focus on the immunogenicity, safety, and efficacy of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines during pregnancy, evaluating antibody kinetics, transplacental transfer, and duration of infant protection. She has contributed to randomized controlled trials and pooled analyses examining birth outcomes, infant growth, and optimal dosing strategies, including in HIV-infected cohorts.

Notable contributions include clarifying the limited duration of passive infant protection, assessing vaccine performance across consecutive seasons, and strengthening methodological frameworks for maternal vaccine trials in low- and middle-income settings. Her research informs global policy discussions on maternal influenza immunization and highlights the need for improved vaccines for vulnerable mothers and newborns.