Strong Evidence, Real-World Impact

By Office of the President | Apr 28, 2026

A recent publication in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics highlights the kind of rigorous, practice-relevant research emerging from Downstate’s School of Public Health.

The study, led by alumna Hannah Brown, MPH, and mentored by SPH vaccine epidemiologist Sharifa Nasreen, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, examines the safety of HPV vaccination in real-world settings.

This issue continues to influence public confidence in one of the most effective cancer-prevention tools available. While HPV vaccines have been widely studied, questions about rare but serious adverse events remain a common source of concern and hesitancy.

Using post-marketing data, Hannah and Dr. Nasreen conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the frequency and nature of severe adverse events following vaccination. Across 15 studies, they found that 3.67 percent of reported adverse events were classified as serious, with an overall reporting rate of 0.04 per 1,000 doses. The broader evidence, including the studies they reviewed, shows no consistent increase in risk from HPV vaccination. Across large surveillance systems, findings remain clear: serious side effects are rare and not caused by the vaccine.

Conducted as part of Hannah’s MPH Integrative Learning Experience, the work reflects the School’s emphasis on applying epidemiologic methods to pressing public health questions. Dr. Nasreen, whose research focuses on the epidemiology of infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases, brings this expertise directly into student mentorship and training.

Now a medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Hannah continues to build on this foundation at the intersection of public health and clinical care.

This is a strong example of how faculty mentorship and student scholarship at Downstate contribute to evidence that informs practice and strengthens public understanding.

Tags: School of Public Health