The Lancet  
Jul 02, 2011  Volume 378  Number 9785  Pages 1 – 98
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Comment
Group B streptococcal vaccine for resource-poor countries
Stephanie J Schrag, for the Global Group B Streptococcal Vaccine Working Group

Preview
Neonatal deaths, which occur mostly in resource-poor countries during the first week of life, constitute 41% of the 8·8 million deaths in children aged less than 5 years worldwide.1 Sepsis and pneumonia cause about a third of neonatal deaths. Maternal immunisation—the prevention cornerstone of neonatal tetanus and influenza programmes—has untapped potential to protect neonates from other infectious diseases. Group B streptococcal vaccines are uniquely suited to maternal immunisation in view of the substantial perinatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in the first 48 h of life.