New study: Streptococcal vaccines are both safe and effective

Group B streptococci (GBS) are a type of bacteria that can cause severe blood stream infection, also known as sepsis, in newborns. 

Globally, about 400,000 newborns develop a serious GBS infection annually. About one in five of these will die from such an infection.

"Safe and effective"

Those who survive are at greater risk of developing neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and neurodevelopmental delay. 

The problem is most significant in Africa, but many are also affected in countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

“Today, there are two vaccines under development against blood stream infection with GBS. Our study provides strong indications that both of these vaccines will be both safe and effective weapons in the fight against blood stream infection in newborns,” says Aline Bjerkhaug.

She is a doctor and researcher at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. 

Together with researchers at other universities and at UiT and CANS – the Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies –  she has conducted a systematic review of the research in this field. 

They found 20 high-quality studies to assess the mechanisms of action and the biological effects of the two vaccines.

Prefer vaccines over antibiotics

The results give good reason for optimism that we can reduce both the incidence of sepsis and its long-term effects in newborns.

“Today, especially in affluent countries, we give antibiotics to the mother before birth as a precaution, to prevent the baby from contracting this bacterium during birth,” says Bjerkhaug.

She says that instead, we should give the vaccine to the mother when possible. Both to prevent these streptococci from developing antibiotic resistance and to prevent the antibiotics from disrupting the development of the child's gut microbiome.

The gut microbiome is important for the development of a normal immune system and should be disturbed as little as possible.

The two vaccines under development could be on the market around the year 2030, perhaps even earlier.

Reference:

Bjerkhaug et al. The immunogenicity and safety of Group B Streptococcal maternal vaccines: A systematic review, Vaccine, vol. 42, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.11.056

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