Coming up: Vaccine to stop bacterial infection stillbirths

A maternity ward at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital in western Kenya. A new vaccine under development seeks to protect babies from Group B streptococcus bacterial infection. PHOTO BENSON MOMANYI | NATION

Biovac Institute of South Africa and PATH foundation have partnered to develop a vaccine that will help to prevent stillbirths or pre-term deliveries caused by a bacterial infection in a pregnant woman’s vagina or rectum.

The little known Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection is passed on to the baby during delivery.