Twelve pregnant women have been admitted to ICUs with Covid-19 since late June, new figures from the Department of Health show.
Data released to the Irish Times shows the number of pregnant women receiving hospital care in the ICU for Covid-19 rose from less than five cases in the first wave of Covid-19 to 19 cases in the third wave, and 12 cases in recent months.
During the third wave of Covid-19 in Ireland, which occurred between November 22nd 2020 and June 26th 2021, 19 pregnant women were admitted to ICUs with Covid-19, representing 5 per cent of female cases during the period.
Pregnancy was reported in 12 cases, or 11 per cent of female cases, of Covid-19 admitted to ICUs between late June and early October this year.
This is compared with less than five cases during the initial first wave of Covid-19 in early 2020 and no cases in the second wave in late 2020.
It was “important that pregnant women protect themselves from the Covid-19 virus. The HSE is recommending women, who are pregnant, trying for a baby or might get pregnant in the future to get a Covid-19 vaccine,” a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said.
Women at any stage of pregnancy are being offered an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), following a National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) recommendation.
“We are encouraging women to talk to their obstetrician, midwife or GP about getting their Covid-19 vaccine. Following this consultation, women can attend for a vaccine at a walk-in vaccination centre at various locations across the country,” the spokeswoman said.