The SCICONX Journal of Vaccine and Immunology (JVI) follows a structured, transparent, and author-friendly manuscript submission process designed to ensure academic integrity, efficient handling, and fair evaluation of all submitted work. This page outlines each stage of the submission workflow to help authors understand what to expect from initial submission through final publication.

Pre-Submission Preparation

Before submitting a manuscript, authors are strongly encouraged to:

• Ensure the manuscript aligns with the Aims and Scope of the journal
• Review the Instructions for Authors carefully
• Confirm that the work is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere
• Obtain all necessary ethical approvals, patient consents, and institutional permissions (where applicable)
• Ensure that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and approve the final version of the manuscript

Manuscripts that do not meet basic journal requirements may be returned to authors without entering the peer review process.

Online Submission

All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s official submission system or designated editorial email as specified on the journal website.

Formatting Template (Click here to download).

During submission, authors are required to provide:

• Manuscript title and article type
• Full author details, affiliations, and contact information
• Abstract and keywords
• Main manuscript file and any supplementary materials
• Ethical approval statements (if applicable)
• Conflict of interest disclosures
• Funding information

A confirmation of receipt will be sent to the corresponding author once the submission is successfully completed.

Initial Editorial Assessment

Upon submission, the manuscript undergoes an initial screening by the editorial office to evaluate:

• Relevance to the journal’s scope
• Compliance with submission guidelines
• Completeness of required documentation
• Language clarity and academic presentation
• Preliminary ethical considerations

At this stage, the Editor-in-Chief or handling editor may:

• Proceed with peer review
• Request minor technical revisions before review
• Decline the manuscript if it is outside the scope or fails to meet basic standards

Assignment to Handling Editor

Manuscripts that pass the initial assessment are assigned to a qualified handling editor with subject-matter expertise. The handling editor oversees the peer review process and ensures that the evaluation is conducted fairly, objectively, and confidentially.

Peer Review Process

The journal employs a rigorous peer review system as described in the Peer Review Process policy. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and absence of conflicts of interest.

Authors may be asked to:

• Respond to reviewer comments
• Revise the manuscript within a specified timeframe
• Provide a point-by-point response explaining changes made

Failure to submit revisions within the allotted time may result in withdrawal of the manuscript from active consideration.

Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer reports and editorial assessment, the handling editor will recommend one of the following decisions:

• Accept without revision
• Accept with minor revisions
• Major revision required
• Reject

The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief. Authors will receive a detailed decision letter outlining the reasons for the decision and, where applicable, guidance for revision.

Post-Acceptance Process

Once a manuscript is accepted, authors will be notified and guided through the post-acceptance steps, which include:

• Completion of copyright or licensing agreements
• Confirmation of Article Processing Charges (if applicable)
• Copyediting and formatting
• Proof review and author approval

Authors are responsible for reviewing proofs carefully and returning corrections promptly.

Publication and Online Release

Accepted & finalized articles are published online and made available according to the journal’s open access policy and are eligible for indexing and archiving services as applicable.

Communication and Author Support

The editorial office maintains clear communication with authors throughout the submission and review process. Authors are encouraged to contact the journal for:

• Submission-related queries
• Status updates
• Technical assistance

All correspondence should include the manuscript reference number for efficient handling.

Withdrawal and Ethical Compliance

Authors wishing to withdraw a manuscript must submit a formal request in writing. Withdrawal requests are handled in accordance with the journal’s Withdrawal and Retraction Policy. Any ethical concerns identified during the submission process will be investigated thoroughly.

The SCICONX Journal of Vaccine and Immunology is committed to maintaining a fair, efficient, and ethical submission process that supports high-quality scientific communication and advances the field of vaccine and immunological research.