Maternal Vaccination Service wins Nursing Times Award

UCLH’s Maternal Vaccination Service won the Public Health Nursing category, recognising its outstanding contribution to improving vaccination uptake among pregnant women.

Led by nurses, the service identified barriers to accessing vaccines among pregnant women and then worked hard to break these down by offering drop-in clinics, booked appointments, and opportunistic vaccinations. Their approach combined systems thinking with a proactive, solution-focused mindset, including the development of bespoke training to bridge gaps in staff knowledge and skills. 

A spokesperson from Nursing Times shared the judges’ praise: “UCLH was the clear winner in this category. The team tackled a pressing public health challenge—low vaccination rates in pregnancy—with determination and innovation.” 

The judges commended the service’s measurable impact, supported by both qualitative and quantitative data, and highlighted the positive feedback from patients. Crucially, the initiative’s success was underpinned by exceptional collaboration between midwives and public health nurses. 

The winners across 25 categories were celebrated at a glittering ceremony held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, where the spirit of nursing excellence shone brightly. 

Johanna Moss, director of strategy, said: “It’s fantastic to see our maternal vaccination service recognised with this award. The work they have done, and continue to do, to improve vaccination uptake and protect mothers and their babies is phenomenal. It is also helping to address a key objective of the NHS Long Term Plan, which places prevention at the heart of healthcare.” 

Vanessa Sweeney, chief nurse, added: “This award is a testament to the collaboration between our midwifery and nursing vaccination teams. Their commitment to improving maternal health through vaccination is making a real difference in the lives of women and families across our community. We’re incredibly proud of our teams and the visibility this award gives to this important area of practice.” 

See the full list of Nursing Times Awards 2025 winners