Ireland

HSE offering Covid-19 vaccines to women at any stage of pregnancy

All pregnant women to be offered an mRNA vaccine following Niac’s recommendation

Previously, women were only offered an mRNA vaccine when they were 14-36 weeks pregnant. Photograph: iStock

Aine Kenny
Thu Sep 9 2021 - 13:26

The Health Service Executive is now offering women a Covid-19 vaccine at any stage of pregnancy, following a recent recommendation from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac).

From today, all pregnant women will be offered an mRNA vaccine, either Pfizer or Moderna.

Previously, women were only offered an mRNA vaccine when they were 14-36 weeks pregnant.

Women who are interested in getting the jab should discuss their options with their midwife, GP or obstetrician.

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Following this consultation, women can get a vaccine at a walk-in vaccination centre.

The HSE added that most maternity hospitals and units are already discussing vaccination with women at their booking scan, which occurs between 12 to 14 weeks gestation.

Refused

On Tuesday, The Irish Times reported that some women who were fewer than 14-weeks pregnant had been refused the vaccine, despite the change in advice.

The HSE said this was because the new Niac recommendation was not yet “operational”.

Niac recommended the change on August 30th, and the government made an announcement about it last week.

“Evidence shows Covid-19 vaccines are safe and we now have a lot of experience of vaccination in pregnancy,” said Dr Peter McKenna, national clinical director of the HSE national women and infants health programme.

“We are recommending women, who are pregnant, trying for a baby or might get pregnant in the future get a Covid-19 vaccine... we are encouraging women to take up this opportunity to avail of the vaccination and protect both themselves and their babies from getting unwell.”

Information on the Covid-19 vaccine is available on the HSE website, as is a list of walk-in vaccination clinics.

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