Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With regard to pregnant women, I need to be very careful not to be stepping in and providing clinical advice which I am not qualified to give. The context is as follows. NIAC recommended that pregnant women should be offered an mRNA vaccine between 14 and 36 weeks following an individual benefit-risk discussion with their obstetric caregiver. While there are currently no data published from clinical trials specifically evaluating the EMA-approved Covid-19 vaccines in pregnant and breastfeeding women, there are ongoing clinical trials. There have been no specific safety concerns identified with pregnancy with the use of mRNA vaccines. The HSE is working hard on this issue to put the protocols in place as quickly as possible.

With regard to vaccinating people who previously had Covid, that is happening. There is not a situation whereby you will not get a vaccine if you have had Covid. You can be deemed to be equivalently vaccinated or protected for up to six months after a lab-confirmed test of Covid, but it does not preclude you from being vaccinated.

With regard to the GP advice, I will raise that. I understand there is comprehensive advice and materials have been provided to GPs. I will discuss that with Dr. Glynn and the HSE.

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