Bookmarks
Establishing patterns of pregnancy exposures to COVID-19 infection and vaccine uptake in Northern Ireland
Safe People
Organisation name
Ulster University
Organisation sector
Academic Institute
Applicant name(s)
Maria Loane
Funders/ Sponsors
Higher Education Authority Ireland Collaborative North South Funding Programme 2021
DEA accredited researcher?
Yes
Safe Projects
Project ID
E098
Lay summary
Pregnant women infected with COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe illness, sometimes resulting in death, compared to non-pregnant women. They are also more likely to experience miscarriage or going into labour early compared to women who are not infected. It is particularly important that pregnant women are vaccinated therefore, to prevent these risks. Studies in England have shown that younger women and people living in poorer areas were less likely to have the vaccine, and that in addition many pregnant women were reluctant to have the vaccine, so that only a quarter of pregnant women were vaccinated against COVID-19. This study aims to describe COVID-19 infection and vaccine uptake in pregnant women and women of childbearing age in Northern Ireland (NI), and how it changed over time during the pandemic. We will also look at which factors, such as age, parity and deprivation of the area a woman lives in, influenced infection and vaccine uptake. We will do this by linking pregnancy data from the NI Maternity System (NIMATS) to COVID-19 test and vaccination data, along with the NI Multiple Deprivation Measure for the woman's address. This combined dataset can then be analysed. No data on individuals will be disclosed. The study's findings will help us better understand the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in NI and plan for future pandemics.
Public benefit statement
The findings will add to the available evidence relating to COVID-19 infection and vaccine in pregnancy, and WCBA, by providing rates specific to NI. This will help to give an in-depth assessment of the extent to which pregnant women, and WCBA, were affected by COVID-19 infection, and the success of the vaccination campaign, which can be used in future pandemic planning and inform responses to future pandemics. The involvement of the Public Health Agency in the project team will help ensure findings from this project are widely disseminated and, if required, translated into health policy and have a societal impact.
Other approval committees
Latest approval date
30/04/2024
Safe Data
Dataset(s) name
NIMATS (Northern Ireland Maternity System)
COVID Antigen Testing - pillar 1 and 2
COVID-19 Vaccination database
NIMDM
Safe Setting
Access type
TRE