Woman wrongly told Covid vaccine ‘impacts fertility’
A WOMAN was given incorrect advice from her pharmacist to avoid taking the Covid-19 vaccine due to its ‘impact on fertility’, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
The young woman, who intends to have more children, told the MoS she was advised the vaccine could affect her ability to have children in the future and that she should turn it down when offered, which goes against current evidence and research.
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland’s National Immunisation Advisory Committee says there is no evidence to suggest the vaccine impacts fertility. This advice also features in all HSE guidance.
A statement from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology advises women who are planning on having children to ‘seek a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible’.
And the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists put out a statement last month assuring patients that ‘there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility’.
Pharmacists are due to take a significant role in the rollout of the vaccine and have been included in the vaccine implementation strategy from the offset. However, training for vaccination has not yet started.
The MoS contacted 10 pharmacists asking them if the vaccine affects fertility. All said they weren’t 100% sure, eight of those contacted advised that women contact their doctors for confirmation, and two went and found correct information before commenting.
Darragh O’Loughlin, of the Irish Pharmacy Union, told the MoS that training is due to start ‘imminently’.
He added: ‘According to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland’s National Immunisation Advisory Committee, there is no evidence that Covid-19 vaccines affect fertility and they also state that mRNA Covid-19 vaccines cannot become part of a baby’s DNA.
‘Furthermore, in response to the need to leave any interval before starting fertility treatment such as IVF, the RCPI advise you do not need to leave any interval after having the Covid-19 vaccine and starting to try to conceive or to have fertility treatment such as IVF. However, you may wish to defer it until you have completed the full course, in view of the risk of side-effects such as fever in the 48 hours following the vaccine.
‘In advance of the rollout of vaccinations in pharmacies, comprehensive information will be provided to all pharmacists, and pharmacists who participate in vaccinations will complete the necessary training.’