Viral respiratory infections are a leading cause of hospitalizations and long-term medical complications in children throughout the world. These infections place infants and children at higher risk of developing wheezing and asthma later in life. When viral infections occur early in life, they may cause lung damage. Respiratory infections are a leading cause of hospitalizations in the United States and a major cause of mortality among children under age five worldwide. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19 are all conditions that increase mortality risk among children. As such, scientific research in preventing respiratory viruses is essential for improving long-term health among children.
I enjoy learning how infections have shaped our world and society, and how interventions like antibiotics and vaccines can prevent infections. I enjoy figuring out what is causing an infection and how best to treat it. These interests stem from my work in various global healthcare settings, which made me determined to prevent respiratory viruses and other infections in children and infants.
One of my research interests involves vaccinating pregnant women to prevent their infants from contracting infectious diseases. In particular, my research aims to prevent respiratory viruses by focusing on maternal vaccination. I hope to help infants and children avoid respiratory infections early in life.
In addition to my respiratory virus research, my colleagues and I are currently using our research experience and knowledge of respiratory viruses to study COVID-19 infections.
For my role in teaching information about infectious diseases, I was awarded the Optime Magistrum Award (Most Excellent Teacher) in 2017 and 2019 at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. This award recognized my work in teaching medical students about preventing infections using vaccines. I was also awarded a Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health in 2009. During this fellowship, I studied the etiology and seasonal factors of viral respiratory conditions in Honduran children under five years of age. In 2011, I was granted the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Blue Ribbon Research award for maternal vaccine research in Bangladesh.
I continued influenza vaccine research in 2011 with the support of the Procter Scholars award and a K12 Child Health Research Career Development Award (CHRCDA) from the National Institutes of Health. My research has been published in respected journals, such as the Journal of Infectious Diseases, The Lancet Global Health, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Pediatric Research and Vaccine.
MD: University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 2003.
Residency: Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2006.
Chief Residency: Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2007.
Fellowship: Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2011.
MPH: Public Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 2011.
Certification: Pediatrics, 2006; Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 2013.
Global health; influenza; prevention of infant infection with maternal immunization
Infectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases, Global Health
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Maternal Vaccine Effectiveness Against Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits in Infants. JAMA Pediatrics. 2024; 178:176-184.
High Caregiver Adverse Childhood Experiences Are Associated With Pediatric Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. 2023; 12:595-601.
SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology and COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness Among Infants and Children Aged 6 Months-4 Years - New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July 2022-September 2023. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2023; 72:1300-1306.
Immunogenicity of adjuvanted versus high-dose inactivated influenza vaccines in older adults: a randomized clinical trial. Immunity and Ageing. 2023; 20:30.
1742. Predictors of Antiviral Receipt for Influenza in Hospitalized U.S. Children, New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), 2016–2020. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2023; 10:ofad500.1573.
905. Epidemiology of Enterovirus D68 in the US: New Vaccine Surveillance Network, 2017–2022. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2023; 10:ofad500.950.
1754. Parainfluenza Virus Co-detection With Respiratory Syncytial Virus or Influenza is Associated with Higher Odds of Hospitalization in Children < 2 Years Old, New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), 2016–2020. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2023; 10:ofad500.1585.
1733. Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination Against Influenza-Associated Emergency Department (ED) Visits and Hospitalizations Among Children With and Without Underlying Medical Conditions, New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), 2015-2016 through 2019-2020 Influenza Seasons. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2023; 10:ofad500.1564.
2644. Presence of Respiratory Viruses in the Upper Respiratory Tract of Febrile Infants ≤90 Days Old is Associated with Lower Prevalence of Invasive Bacterial Infection. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2023; 10:ofad500.2256.
1101. Antiviral Prescription in Children with Influenza in Emergency Departments (ED): New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), 2016–2020. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2023; 10:ofad500.074.
Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, MD, MPH2/3/2022
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