Pregnant Women Urged to Participate in UK COVID-19 Vaccine Study

Strategic Insights -

Pregnant women in the UK are being encouraged to participate in a national COVID-19 vaccine study, which aims to determine the most effective use of booster vaccines during pregnancy. The Preg-CoV study is currently recruiting around 700 pregnant women across NIHR-supported sites in England. The study, led by researchers at St George's, University of London, compares vaccines currently being used for the UK vaccination program (Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna) as well as new vaccines as they are approved for use, such as Novavax.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study aims to determine the best vaccine schedules and doses to protect women and their babies against COVID-19.
  • The study launched in August 2021 and will involve around 700 pregnant women in total across NIHR-supported sites in England.
  • Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that around 59% of pregnant women have received the first dose of the COVID-19 jab by the time they deliver their babies, and around 50% have received their second dose.
  • The study will also provide vital clinical trial data on the immune response to booster vaccination with different doses of vaccines as well as the immune response to different intervals between doses given in pregnancy.
  • Participants may also be eligible to choose to receive their COVID-19 booster dose alongside the routine whooping cough vaccine.
  • Current UK guidance is COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to pregnant women at the same time as the rest of the population.
  • COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant women, and there is a clinical consensus that it is the best way to protect pregnant women and their babies from COVID-19.
  • The study is led by Professor Paul Heath, Chief Investigator and Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at St George's, University of London.

Statistics:

  • Around 300 pregnant women have already joined the study, and hundreds more participants are needed to help provide further findings key to protecting more women and shaping future vaccine guidelines.
  • More than 300,000 pregnant women have now been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines in the UK, the USA, and elsewhere, with no major safety concerns reported.
  • The study aims to recruit around 700 pregnant women in total across NIHR-supported sites in England.
  • Around 59% of pregnant women have received the first dose of the COVID-19 jab by the time they deliver their babies.
  • Around 50% of pregnant women have received their second dose of the COVID-19 jab.

Sources:

  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • UK Health Security Agency
  • Preg-CoV study website: https://vaccine.ac.uk/research/preg-cov-trial/