Maternal vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic:A qualitative interview study with UK pregnant women

Emma Anderson; Amberly Brigden; Anna Davies; Emily Shepherd; Jenny Ingram

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2021.103062

Maternal vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic:A qualitative interview study with UK pregnant women

Emma Anderson, Amberly Brigden, Anna Davies, Emily Shepherd, Jenny Ingram

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

158 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Abstract
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.

Original language	English
Article number	103062
Journal	Midwifery
Volume	100
Early online date	11 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103062
Publication status	Published - Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, University of Bristol, the Wellcome Trust ISSF3 grant 204813/Z/16/Z and the Economic and Social Research Council ES/T501840/1 and with funding from QR SPF (Quality-Related Strategic Priorities Fund), UKRI Research England. For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. The funding bodies were not involved in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s)

Research Groups and Themes

Covid19

Keywords

Pandemics
Covid-19
Pregnant women
Vaccines
Qualitative research
Maternal Health Services

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.midw.2021.103062

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Final published version, 476 KBLicence: CC BY

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@article{3420fc1a72ef470eae67c6a17c7a2e45,

title = "Maternal vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic:A qualitative interview study with UK pregnant women",

abstract = "AbstractBackgroundThere 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.ObjectivesTo 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.DesignQualitative interview study with pregnant women in the Bristol and surrounding area (UK).MethodsSemi-structured telephone/videoconference interviews were conducted (following a topic guide), transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis.ResultsThirty-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.ConclusionsIt 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.",

keywords = "Pandemics, Covid-19, Pregnant women, Vaccines, Qualitative research, Maternal Health Services",

author = "Emma Anderson and Amberly Brigden and Anna Davies and Emily Shepherd and Jenny Ingram",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, University of Bristol, the Wellcome Trust ISSF3 grant 204813/Z/16/Z and the Economic and Social Research Council ES/T501840/1 and with funding from QR SPF (Quality-Related Strategic Priorities Fund), UKRI Research England. For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. The funding bodies were not involved in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Author(s)",

year = "2021",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.midw.2021.103062",

language = "English",

volume = "100",

journal = "Midwifery",

issn = "0266-6138",

publisher = "Churchill Livingstone",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Maternal vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic:A qualitative interview study with UK pregnant women

AU - Anderson, Emma

AU - Brigden, Amberly

AU - Davies, Anna

AU - Shepherd, Emily

AU - Ingram, Jenny

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, University of Bristol, the Wellcome Trust ISSF3 grant 204813/Z/16/Z and the Economic and Social Research Council ES/T501840/1 and with funding from QR SPF (Quality-Related Strategic Priorities Fund), UKRI Research England. For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. The funding bodies were not involved in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s)

PY - 2021/9

Y1 - 2021/9

N2 - AbstractBackgroundThere 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.ObjectivesTo 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.DesignQualitative interview study with pregnant women in the Bristol and surrounding area (UK).MethodsSemi-structured telephone/videoconference interviews were conducted (following a topic guide), transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis.ResultsThirty-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.ConclusionsIt 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.

AB - AbstractBackgroundThere 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.ObjectivesTo 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.DesignQualitative interview study with pregnant women in the Bristol and surrounding area (UK).MethodsSemi-structured telephone/videoconference interviews were conducted (following a topic guide), transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis.ResultsThirty-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.ConclusionsIt 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.

KW - Pandemics

KW - Covid-19

KW - Pregnant women

KW - Vaccines

KW - Qualitative research

KW - Maternal Health Services

UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103062

UR - http://www.bristol.ac.uk/academic-child-health/research/research/maternal-health/pip-study/

U2 - 10.1016/j.midw.2021.103062

DO - 10.1016/j.midw.2021.103062

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 34198208

SN - 0266-6138

VL - 100

JO - Midwifery

JF - Midwifery

M1 - 103062

ER -

Maternal vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic:A qualitative interview study with UK pregnant women

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Pregnant women’s experiences of social distancing behavioural guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic ‘lockdown’ in the UK, a qualitative interview study

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