Attitudes of pregnant women and healthcare professionals towards clinical trials and routine implementation of antenatal vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus: a multi-centre questionnaire study Wilcox,

BackgroundUptake rates of influenza and pertussis vaccination in pregnancy remain suboptimal.AimTo determine the acceptability of routine vaccination among pregnant women; the confidence of maternity healthcare professionals (HCPs) discussing vaccination; and HCP opinion with regards to the optimum healthcare site for vaccine administration.MethodSeparate questionnaires for pregnant women and maternity HCPs were distributed within four NHS trusts in South England from July 2017–January 2018.ResultsResponses from 314 pregnant women and 204 HCPs (18% obstetricians, 75% midwives [both hospital and community], 7% unidentified) were analysed. Actual/intended uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccination was 78% and 92%, respectively. The commonest reason for declining vaccination was feared side effects for their child. White British women (79%) were significantly more accepting of influenza (odds ratio [OR] 3.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.67 to 6.32) and pertussis vaccination (OR 4.83, 95% CI = 1.77 to 13.19) compared with non-white British women. Among HCPs, 25% were not-at-all or slightly confident discussing vaccination. Obstetricians felt significantly more confident discussing pertussis vaccination than midwives (OR 2.05, 95% CI = 1.02 to 4.12). Among HCPs, 53%, 25%, and 16% thought vaccines should be administered in primary care (general practice), community midwifery, and the hospital setting, respectively.ConclusionMisconceptions exist regarding safety and efficacy of maternal vaccination, and framing information towards safety for the child may increase uptake. Education of HCPs is essential, and vaccine promotion should be incorporated into routine antenatal care, with an emphasis on women from ethnic minorities. Administration of vaccines in primary care may present a logistical barrier to women, however support for alternative sites appears low among HCPs.

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University students have unique living, learning and social arrangements which may have implications for infectious disease transmission. To address this data gap, we created CONQUEST (COroNavirus QUESTionnaire), a longitudinal online survey of contacts, behaviour, and COVID-19 symptoms for University of Bristol (UoB) staff/students. Here, we analyse results from 740 students providing 1261 unique records from the start of the 2020/2021 academic year (14/09/2020–01/11/2020), where COVID-19 outbreaks led to the self-isolation of all students in some halls of residences. Although most students reported lower daily contacts than in pre-COVID-19 studies, there was heterogeneity, with some reporting many (median = 2, mean = 6.1, standard deviation = 15.0; 8% had ≥ 20 contacts). Around 40% of students’ contacts were with individuals external to the university, indicating potential for transmission to non-students/staff. Only 61% of those reporting cardinal symptoms in the past week self-isolated, although 99% with a positive COVID-19 test during the 2 weeks before survey completion had self-isolated within the last week. Some students who self-isolated had many contacts (mean = 4.3, standard deviation = 10.6). Our results provide context to the COVID-19 outbreaks seen in universities and are available for modelling future outbreaks and informing policy.