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Written question asked by Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 30 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 4 June 2025 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Thursday, 5 June 2025. A substantive answer was provided by Ashley Dalton (Labour) on Thursday, 5 June 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Streptococcus: Health Services

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle disparities in the incidence of group B Streptococcal infections among different (a) ethnic and (b) socioeconomic groups.

Answer

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has co-ordinated periods of enhanced surveillance of invasive group B Streptococcal (GBS) in infants younger than 90 days, allowing for a greater understanding of the risk factors and outcomes of infection, which is vital in identifying opportunities for prevention. For example, a population-wide data analysis on race and ethnicity in neonatal GBS in England between 2016 and 2020 revealed marked differences in invasive GBS rates among black and minority ethnic infants. Further details of this study are available at the following link:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35979728/

The UKHSA is working to identify target groups for future GBS vaccination through epidemiological analysis of invasive and non-invasive disease phenotypes in adults and children, and to identify ethnic disparities in rates of infant and maternal GBS. The UKHSA has also been progressing the development of maternal carriage studies to investigate differential rates of carriage according to ethnicity and other characteristics, including socioeconomic factors.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
56093
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Health services Streptococcus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk