The Health Service Executive's Clinical Director of Women and Infant Health has said 15 pregnant women have been admitted to ICUs with Covid-19 since September, but the message that vaccination is necessary "appears to be getting through".
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the former master of the Rotunda Hospital said pregnant women accounted for 1% of ICU admissions last year.
This climbed to 2% in the first half of 2021, but more recently that figure rose to 7%. Dr Peter McKenna said these women have been critically unwell, with some requiring ventilation for weeks.
None of the women were fully vaccinated and just two were partially vaccinated, he said. Dr McKenna said a recent survey of patients in all 19 maternity units found that 58%