Pregnant women or new mothers in Luton & Beds, sign up to our Maternal Vaccine Voices Research Study
Across the UK, maternal vaccination uptake during pregnancy has declined in recent years. At the same time, questions, uncertainty, and mixed messages about vaccines have increased — particularly within Black communities.
At PACE, we believe that responding to this moment requires more than information campaigns. It requires listening.
This project was created to centre Black mothers’ lived experiences, voices, and questions about maternal vaccines during pregnancy — and to explore how maternity services and communities can work together to support clearer, more reassuring, and culturally responsive conversations.
Pregnancy is a period marked by heightened decision-making, vulnerability, and responsibility. For many Black mothers, decisions about vaccines are shaped not only by clinical advice, but also by family networks, community narratives, past experiences of healthcare, and levels of trust in systems.
Research consistently shows that when people feel unheard, dismissed, or overwhelmed by conflicting information, confidence in health decisions can be undermined. This is particularly relevant in communities that have historically experienced marginalisation or inequitable care.
Rather than assuming what information women need, this project starts from a simple question:
What are Black mothers actually asking — and what support feels helpful to them?
This work is grounded in community engagement and co-creation. We are working with pregnant women and new mothers to explore their experiences through small group conversations and focus group discussions.
These conversations focus on:
the questions women have about vaccines during pregnancy and after birth
what information feels unclear, confusing, or difficult to access
how conversations with healthcare professionals are experienced
what would help make these discussions feel more supportive and reassuring
Importantly, this is not about persuasion or promoting a single viewpoint. It is about understanding how decisions are made, what shapes confidence, and where gaps in communication exist.
All participation is voluntary, supportive, and ethically guided.
As part of this project, we have developed a Community Brief that outlines the purpose of the study, its values, and how community organisations and partners can engage with the work.
The brief is designed to:
clearly explain why this research is needed
support organisations in sharing the opportunity with their networks
act as a starting point for dialogue, not a final answer
You can access the community brief here: Community Brief: Maternal Vaccines and Black Mothers’ Experiences
Maternal Vaccines Research Flyer 
This project is relevant to:
community and grassroots organisations
Maternal and Neonatal Voice Partnerships (MNVPs)
faith and cultural groups
advocates working with Black mothers and families
maternity and public health professionals interested in culturally responsive engagement
We welcome collaboration with organisations that share a commitment to listening, trust-building, and community-centred approaches to maternal health.
Insights from these conversations will inform the co-creation of a Maternal Vaccine Conversations Toolkit. This toolkit will be designed to support clearer, more culturally grounded discussions between mothers and maternity services, informed directly by lived experiences.
This is an ongoing process. Listening does not end with a single study — it evolves through relationships, reflection, and feedback.
If you are a community organisation, practitioner, or group interested in:
sharing this resource
supporting engagement
exploring partnership opportunities
we would be pleased to hear from you.
You can contact us at: hello@paceinitiative.org.uk
or by completing our contact form Contact us
Author: Dr Glory Aigbedion (Principal Investigator)
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