Journal of Neonatal Biology

GBS vaccine acceptability among pregnant women in Greece

5^th International Conference on Neonatology and Perinatology

August 24-25, 2022 | Webinar

Dr Akylas Grammeniatis

Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of Peloponnese, Greece

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Neonatal Biol

Abstract:

Group B streptococcus (GBS) has been identified as one of the commonest causes of sepsis and meningitis in neonates leading to increased rates in neonatal morbidity and mortality among developed countries. Over the last years, scientists are trying to find different ways to deal with GBS, ultimately aiming to create a broad spectrum vaccine that would prevent GBS infection. Methods: Based on this new vaccine development, one of the goals of this study through completing an anonymous questionnaire, is to monitor the perception of pregnant women in Greece on the complications of GBS infection to their neonates as well as their acceptability to receive any potential vaccine in pregnancy. Results: Unfortunately, after reflecting on the results of the collected data based on the answers of the pregnant women that took part in the study, it seems that the information on GBS provided to pregnant women from the health care professionals during their prenatal appointments is very poor (72% of pregnant women were unaware of GBS). Discussion: Besides, during this study it was proved that there was a statistically significant increase from 40% to almost 85% in the incidence among those pregnant women who would accept a potential vaccine that would protect from GBS infection, only after reading the information leaflet on GBS that was provided as an internal part of the questionnaire answered. Conclusion: Medical advice and previous GBS infection play a key role in pregnant women’s decision to accept the potential vaccine during their current pregnancy, but despite the recent COVID pandemic, 15% of pregnant women have expressed their opposition to vaccines.

Biography :

Akylas Grammeniatis is currently working at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Royal Free Hospital, London and is a PhD candidate in the University of Peloponnese, Greece, PhD entitled: ‘’Correlation between asymptomatic bacteriuria – bacterial vaginosis and streptococcal vaccine with preterm birth’’. His latest publication ‘A review of current knowledge on the development of a Group B Streptococcus vaccine for pregnant women and the protection of neonates’ was part of his research study to investigate the acceptability of the latest vaccine candidates that protect pregnant women against GBS infection and are currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials, being tested in pregnant women.