Antenatal vaccination against Group B streptococcus: Attitudes of pregnant women and healthcare professionals in the UK to participation in clinical trials and routine implementation.

Maternal vaccination is increasingly part of antenatal care in the UK and worldwide. Trials of Group B streptococcus (GBS) vaccines are ongoing. This study investigated the attitudes of pregnant women and healthcare professionals towards antenatal vaccination, both in routine care and a clinical trial setting.Survey of 269 pregnant women, 273 midwives/obstetricians and 97 neonatal doctors across seven sites in the UK assessing attitudes towards antenatal vaccinations, knowledge of GBS, a hypothetical GBS vaccine and participation in clinical vaccine trials.Sixty-eight percent of pregnant women intended to receive a vaccine during their current pregnancy (183/269) and 43% (of all respondents, 115/269) reported they would be very/fairly likely to accept a vaccine against GBS despite only 29% (55/269) knowing what GBS was. This increased to 69% after additional information about GBS was provided. Twenty-four percent of pregnant women reported they would be likely to take part in a clinical trial of an unlicensed GBS vaccine. Fifty-nine percent of maternity professionals and 74% of neonatologists would be likely to recommend participation in a GBS vaccine trial to women, with the vast majority (>99%) willing to be involved in such a study. Incentives to take part cited by pregnant women included extra antenatal scans and the opportunity to be tested for GBS.Pregnant women and healthcare professionals were open to the idea of an antenatal GBS vaccine and involvement in clinical trials of such a vaccine. Education and support from midwives would be key to successful implementation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.