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Mum Joins Vaccine Trial to Protect Babies from GBS
5 Oct
Summary
- A mum is participating in a trial for a GBS vaccine.
- Group B Strep affects one in 1,750 UK babies.
- The trial aims to prevent GBS transmission during childbirth.
First-time mother Menna Hulme is participating in a groundbreaking vaccine trial aimed at combating Group B Streptococcus (GBS). This infection affects approximately one in 1,750 babies in the UK, with a tragic fatality rate of one per week.
Hulme, from English Frankton in north Shropshire, became the first woman in Europe to enroll in the GBS vaccine trial led by Prof Will Parry-Smith of Keele University. Her involvement stems from a previous personal experience where she required intravenous antibiotics during labour to safeguard herself and her first child from GBS.
The trial hopes to lead to a vaccine that can be widely administered, offering a preventative measure against GBS. Babies typically contract the bacteria by ingesting it while passing through the birth canal, a risk currently managed by IV antibiotics. Hulme's participation underscores the desire for proactive solutions beyond existing interventions, aiming to ensure safer births for future generations.
