Group B Strep Support (GBSS) Awareness Month 2027
All of July 2027
This awareness month, led by the UK charity Group B Strep Support (GBSS), shines a spotlight on group B Streptococcus (GBS) – the most common cause of severe infection in newborns in the UK.
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Dates and event details
Group B Strep Support (GBSS) Awareness Month 2027 runs throughout July 2027. It runs for the whole of July every year.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2027 | July 2027 |
| 2028 | July 2028 |
| 2029 | July 2029 |
| Where | International |
|---|
What is Group B Strep Support Awareness Month?
This awareness month, led by the UK charity Group B Strep Support (GBSS), shines a spotlight on group B Streptococcus (GBS) – the most common cause of severe infection in newborns in the UK. It aims to educate expectant parents and health professionals about how GBS is carried, how it can be transmitted during childbirth, and what steps can be taken to reduce the risk.
Awareness Month also honours the families affected by GBS and highlights the stories of those who’ve experienced loss or trauma due to late diagnosis or missed opportunities for prevention.
Each July, families, health professionals, and campaigners across the UK come together to raise awareness of group B Strep – a common yet often misunderstood bacterium that can have life-threatening consequences for newborns. Group B Strep Support Awareness Month is a time to educate, empower, and advocate for better testing, treatment, and understanding of this preventable infection.
When is Group B Strep Support Awareness Month 2027?
Group B Strep Support Awareness Month takes place throughout the month of July 2026. It is observed annually across the UK and supported by hospitals, midwives, campaigners, and community groups. Events and campaigns run all month long, including webinars, fundraising efforts, personal story sharing, and calls for action.
How to Get Involved in Group B Strep Support Awareness Month
Whether you’re a parent, health worker, or supporter, there are powerful ways to make a difference:
- Learn the Facts: Visit the GBSS website to understand what group B Strep is and how it’s prevented.
- Share Your Story: If you’ve been affected by group B Strep, your experience could help raise awareness and save lives.
- Raise Funds: Organise a sponsored walk, bake sale, or community event to support GBSS’s campaigning and support work.
- Campaign for Change: Contact your MP to support routine testing for GBS during pregnancy, or sign the latest petition.
- Use Your Platform: Share GBSS content, infographics, or personal messages using the campaign hashtags.
Why Group B Strep Support Awareness Month Matters
What makes this especially heartbreaking is that most group B Strep infections are preventable. With better awareness, routine testing, and timely antibiotics during labour, the risk can be significantly reduced. This month helps put that life-saving information into more hands – especially among new and expectant parents.
Noteworthy Facts About Group B Strep
- Group B Strep is the most common cause of severe infection in newborn babies in the UK.
- Routine testing is standard in countries like the US, Canada, and Germany – but not yet in the UK.
- Most babies exposed to GBS are born healthy, but a small number develop serious infection, often within hours of birth.
- GBSS provides free information booklets to hospitals, clinics, and families across the UK.
Links
History of Group B Strep Support Awareness Month
The awareness month is organised by Group B Strep Support, founded in 1996 by Jane Plumb MBE and Robert Plumb MBE after their son Theo died from GBS infection shortly after birth. Since then, GBSS has grown into the UK’s leading voice for group B Strep awareness, working closely with health professionals, researchers, and families to improve information and change policy.
GBSS Awareness Month was established to give greater visibility to the cause, push for wider testing availability, and unite people in sharing knowledge and support each July.
Hashtags
#GBSAwarenessMonth, #GBS2027, #GroupBStrep, #TestForGBS
