There’s no doubt that more in-depth research is needed.

And now University College Cork (UCC) and Ulster University (UU) researchers have been awarded €200,000 from the Irish government to conduct a study on COVID-19 infection and vaccine uptake in pregnancy, and the effects of infection and vaccines on the developing fetus.

The study will be led by Dr Ali Khashan at UCC’s world-renowned INFANT Research Centre and the UCC School of Public Health, and in collaboration with Dr Paul Corcoran of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre in UCC, and Dr Maria Loane and Professor Helen Dolk at UU.

“This research will provide evidence to inform women and healthcare providers about the balance of risks and benefits of COVID-19 infection and vaccines in the first trimester of pregnancy”. said Dr Loane.

A recent survey found that only 58% of new and expectant mothers in the Republic of Ireland had been vaccinated against COVID-19, and reports in Northern Ireland suggest that pregnant women are particularly likely to need intensive care.

The COVICAT research will use data from several open access data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccine and the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies (EUROCAT) registry.

Ultimately, Dr Khashan and his team hope to create an island-wide database based on weekly COVID-19 infection and vaccination data in pregnancy and alleviate some of the concerns pregnant women may have over COVID-19 vaccines.

In turn, Dr Khashan hopes that the study will help inform the decisions of women and clinicians when it comes to vaccination.