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Maternal vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic:A qualitative interview study with UK pregnant women
Emma Anderson1, Amberly Brigden1, Anna Davies1
1Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, 1-5 Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 1NU.
Insights
The Covid-19 pandemic increased pregnant women's perceived need for routine maternal vaccines but raised concerns about appointment safety. Most women were hesitant about new Covid-19 vaccines, viewing them as riskier than the virus itself.
Area of Science:
- Maternal Health
- Vaccinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Suboptimal uptake of recommended maternal vaccines (pertussis, influenza) in the UK.
- The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted healthcare services and vaccine coverage.
- There is a need for testing and rolling out new vaccines during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the pandemic's impact on pregnant women's access to and attitudes towards routine maternal vaccines.
- To assess pregnant women's attitudes towards testing Covid-19 vaccines and their willingness to participate in trials.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interview study conducted with pregnant women in the Bristol area, UK.
- Semi-structured telephone/videoconference interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed.
Main Results:
- Participants viewed the pandemic as increasing the importance of routine maternal vaccines but worried about appointment safety.
- Most women were wary of new Covid-19 vaccines, perceiving them as riskier than the virus.
- Concerns were raised regarding safety management during appointment attendance.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing the safety and efficiency of maternity appointments is crucial for improving routine maternal vaccine uptake.
- Effective communication is essential to address concerns and encourage vaccine participation.
- Pregnant women need to perceive the risk of the virus as greater than the risk of a new vaccine to accept it or join a trial.
Background:
There is suboptimal uptake of recommended maternal vaccines (pertussis and influenza) during pregnancy in the UK. The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted healthcare services, and potentially vaccine coverage, and brought the need for new vaccines to be tested and rolled out.
Objectives:
To explore: i) the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on pregnant women's access to, and attitudes towards, routine maternal vaccines and; ii) women's attitudes towards testing Covid-19 vaccines on pregnant women and their personal willingness to take part in such a trial.
Design:
Qualitative interview study with pregnant women in the Bristol and surrounding area (UK).
Methods:
Semi-structured telephone/videoconference interviews were conducted (following a topic guide), transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis.
Results:
Thirty-one pregnant women (selected for demographic range) were interviewed in April/May 2020. Participants felt the pandemic had elevated the importance of routine maternal vaccines, though women were concerned about safety management around appointment attendance. Women were wary of receiving a new Covid-19 vaccine, with most perceiving it as riskier than Covid-19 itself.
Conclusions:
It is important to maximise the safety and efficiency of maternity appointments to encourage uptake of routine maternal vaccines, and to communicate this well. For pregnant women to gain a new vaccine or participate in a vaccine trial, they need to be convinced that the risk posed by the virus is greater than any risk of receiving a new vaccine.
