Walk-in maternity vaccination clinics taking place in Mullingar this week
Women attending for maternity services in the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, can avail of dose 1 and dose 2 vaccines at special walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics set up at the hospital over the coming days.
The dates, times and location for the clinics in Mullingar are detailed below, and both women and their partners are welcome for vaccination.
At the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, the vaccinations will be provided in the outpatients department tomorrow (Thursday, October 28) from 1pm to 5pm; on Friday, October 29, from 9am to 1pm; on Monday, November 1, from 10am to 3.30pm; on Wednesday, November 3, from 1pm to 5pm; and on Friday, November 5, from 9am to 1pm.
Prof Chris Fitzpatrick, Clinical Lead for the vaccination programme for the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, and a Consultant Obstetrician, said: "The walk-in vaccination clinics have proved to be a very popular option for people who have not been able to make a scheduled appointment.
"Although we are well advanced in the vaccination programme, we know there are still people requiring vaccination. Covid-19 poses significant risks in pregnancy to both mothers and their unborn babies - including admission to intensive care and stillbirth.
"There is now considerable evidence to show COVID-19 vaccines are very safe throughout all of pregnancy, and offer the very best protection to women who are pregnant. Both NIAC and the HSE recommend women who are pregnant or trying for a baby to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
"We therefore appeal to women and their partners as well as other family members to get the vaccine. We will continue to work with obstetricians, midwives and GPs to ensure we can provide clinics with the necessary flexibility to meet the additional needs of women who are pregnant - and greatly appreciate the feedback that we have received from women attending our vaccination centres."
The HSE encourages women to talk to their obstetrician, midwife or GP about getting their COVID-19 vaccine if they are pregnant. Following this consultation, women can attend for a vaccine at a walk-in vaccination centre at various locations across the country.
Factual and updated information on the COVID-19 vaccine is available on the HSE website. The HSE encourages all women to read the information, and to discuss vaccination with their obstetric caregiver.
The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the vaccine being offered at the dose 1 walk-in vaccination centres.
People who have already registered online are asked to bring photo ID with you. ID can include one of the following: passport, drivers licence, Garda age card, student/school ID etc, but if your ID doesn't include your date of birth, please bring proof of your DOB (e.g. your Birth Cert).
Those who are not registered online can be registered at the vaccination centre, and are asked to bring their PPS number, Eircode, phone number, email address and photo ID with date of birth.
Pregnant women can also attend for vaccination at any of the participating vaccination centres around the country.