Evaluation of antenatal vaccination in secondary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of pertussis vaccination in pregnancy in secondary care: attitudes towards and satisfaction with a new service
IRAS ID
247553
Contact name
Chrissie Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
41185, ERGO reference number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is an acute bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. Infants are the most vulnerable group for pertussis infection with the highest rates of severe complications, hospitalisations and mortality. A vaccine is given to pregnant women from 16-32 week’s gestation to pass protection on to their unborn child. This provides protection to the infant in the first few months of life when they are most vulnerable and before they are vaccinated as part of the childhood immunisation programme. In practice the maternal pertussis vaccination typically takes place after the 20-week anomaly scan via primary care.
Uptake of the maternal pertussis vaccine in the UK is around 70%, which is suboptimal. In 2017, a new service, lead by midwives trained in vaccination, was initiated to provide influenza vaccination in pregnancy at the same time as the 20-week anomaly scan at the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton. This service is being extended in May 2018 to include pertussis vaccination. The aim of the service is to reduce the barriers to receiving vaccines in pregnancy by improving convenience and access, therefore improving uptake of the vaccine. There is some evidence that suggests that the need to organise a separate appointment in primary care for the vaccination is a logistical barrier to uptake, and previous studies have indicated that vaccinating in secondary care may indeed improve uptake.
This questionnaire based research study aims to explore the attitudes of pregnant women and healthcare professionals towards pertussis vaccination in pregnancy. It also will assess levels of satisfaction with the new service providing vaccination at the same time as the 20-week anomaly scan. An increased understanding of these attitudes will help optimise this service with the aim of further improving uptake of this vital vaccination.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0294
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion