Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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520. To ask the Minister for Health the current position regarding pregnant women receiving the Covid-19 vaccine; if they will be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine given the risk of Covid placentitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22667/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC review all data relating to COVID-19 vaccines on a rolling basis.

Pregnant women are at similar risk of COVID-19 infection to non-pregnant women of the same age. The overall risk of severe illness in pregnancy is low. However, pregnant women with COVID-19 infection are more likely to develop serious disease or to die than either pregnant women without COVID-19 or similar aged non-pregnant women with COVID-19. Additionally, COVID-19 in pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth.

NIAC recommends that pregnant women should be offered mRNA COVID-19 vaccination between 14-36 weeks gestation following an individual benefit/risk discussion with their obstetric care giver.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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521. To ask the Minister for Health when persons who do not wish to take a vaccine (details supplied) may be able to receive a different vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22670/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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While a person can, of course, refuse any offer of vaccination on religious, conscientious or other grounds, provision of one or other authorised COVID-19 vaccine(s) during the immunisation programme will be based on clinical expert guidance, including from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, to ensure the optimal stewardship of scarce resources and equitable access to safe and effective vaccine(s) for a given population.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.