Women in Hartlepool and Stockton who have any questions about the Covid vaccine in pregnancy will be able to access expert advice from midwives at local drop-in.
Held in partnership with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and Hartlepool Borough Council, the regular drop-in sessions at Mill House Leisure Centre have proven popular with the public recently.
Midwives from the Trust will be on-hand to offer advice and guidance to women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or currently breast-feeding.
Midwives are attending the sessions in response to NHS research which shows that 98% of pregnant women who were admitted to hospital with COVID-19 from February to September this year were not vaccinated.
Drop-in clinics
Hartlepool
Date: Wednesday 8 December and Wednesday 22 December
Time: 10am to 2pm
Venue: Mill House Leisure Centre, Raby Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AR
You do not need an appointment to attend the drop-in session.
Stockton-on-Tees
The maternity team has arranged to also attend a drop-in clinic at Stockton-on-Tees.
Date: Friday 17 December
Time: 9.30am to 2pm
Venue: Unit Five, Wellington Square, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1NA
You do not need an appointment to attend the drop-in session.
“An essential part of caring for your baby”
Steve Wild is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at our Trust. He said: “Thousands of pregnant women have been safely vaccinated in the UK.
“All the evidence shows that the Covid vaccine in pregnancy has no harmful effects on the baby and does not affect the pregnancy, but of course we can understand some women may be hesitant or have questions.
“These drop-in sessions are a chance for pregnant women and women hoping to have a baby to have a chat with a midwife about any concerns they may have.
“The vaccine really is an essential part of caring for your baby.”
Craig Blundred is Hartlepool’s Director of Public Health. He said: “We had a really good response to our first dedicated drop-in session for pregnant women. And I would urge other mums-to-be to come forward and get vaccinated.
“The vaccines offer pregnant women the best protection against COVID, which can be serious in later pregnancy.”