Opportunities and challenges to the development and deployment of vaccines for pregnant women in Germany

Abstract

Maternal immunisation is a powerful tool to protect both pregnant women and their children. A new maternal RSV vaccine holds promise to protect newborns from RSV-associated illness in the first few months of life, but no official recommendation has been made in Germany. Since RSV causes a significant burden of paediatric hospital admissions, we consider it a pertinent opportunity to review barriers to maternal vaccination in Germany, which might also apply to other settings. Access to vaccination for pregnant women in Germany is shaped by an interplay of legal, regulatory, institutional, and sociocultural factors, with a less permissive clinical research environment, delays in recommendation and roll-out, and lower acceptance by healthcare professionals and the population. Actionable recommendations to improve availability and uptake include coordination with other national regulatory bodies to reduce delays, awareness and literacy campaigns for health professionals and the general public, and capacity building for vaccine clinical research.