Maternal Vaccines Protect Babies, but Access Gaps Persist in Europe
A new Lancet Regional Health series highlights that while maternal vaccines like RSV are highly effective, significant access gaps persist across Europe. The report calls for coordinated health system improvements to ensure equitable vaccine delivery for all pregnant women.
Why it matters
Addressing these disparities is critical for reducing infant hospitalizations and ensuring public health interventions reach vulnerable populations.
Europe must act now to strengthen maternal vaccination in pregnancy and ensure all women and babies can benefit from a new generation of vaccines to protect against serious infections. That is according to a new Lancet Regional Health - Europe Series led by Professor Asma Khalil at City St George's, University of London, which is being launched and presented today at the 2026 Global Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Congress in Utrecht.
The Series found maternal RSV vaccination was associated with an approximately 74% lower risk of hospitalisation for RSV-related lower respiratory tract infection in babies younger than six months. However, evidence also suggests substantial inequalities in access, with one UK study finding women living in the most deprived areas had 72% lower odds of receiving vaccination than women living in the least deprived areas.
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