Vaccinations for Drogheda maternity staff postponed

Maternity staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda are angry and worried as vaccinations which were due to take place this week have been cancelled.

It was the second time vaccinations for the staff were cancelled and they have not been told when exactly they will be vaccinated.

A midwife in the unit said that they were due to be vaccinated last week, this was postponed.

"We were then told we would be vaccinated this week, but that is no longer the case.

"They cannot tell us when we will get vaccinated, but it could be next week," she says.

"This is very worrying and unfair. Whether a woman in labour has Covid-19 or not, we look after her. Sometimes she could be Covid-19 positive without actually knowing it.

"Maternity staff need to be vaccinated for the safety of patients and staff," she said.

Vaccinations have taken place in the main hospital with a large number of the staff now vaccinated.

"We saw mass vaccination of GPs over the weekend and most of them aren't actually seeing patients face to face anymore. Then we heard about what happened at the Coombe where people were vaccinated because the vaccine would have gone to waste otherwise.

"All of the maternity staff from midwives and doctors to household staff, caterers and porters should have access to this vaccine.

"The delay is very worrying for both staff and patients."

The Royal College of Surgeons Hospital Group, of which Drogheda is a member has been approached for comment.