Further calls for Education Minister to explain why teachers in early pregnancy are expected to return to school

Pregnant people earlier than 14 weeks are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine.

Minister for Education Norma Foley is under pressure to publicly explain why teachers in the early stages of pregnancy are expected to return to school when the new academic year commences. Pregnant women between 14 and 36 weeks have been offered an mRNA vaccine, but some secondary teachers in the earlier stages of pregnancy who cannot avail of this have expressed concerns about returning to school when case numbers are again so high. The issue was raised at a meeting yesterday between education stakeholders such as teacher unions, HSE representatives and those of the Department of Education. A source from the meeting told the Independent that the issue surrounding teachers in early pregnancy and other teachers not yet eligible for vaccination was put "frankly to the department officials, with demands for the minister to address the issue publicly." [caption id="attachment_395672" align="alignnone" width="640"] Credit: Merrion Street[/caption] The source added that "more visibility from the Department and the minister on the issue" was needed. A department spokesperson said there had been "very constructive engagement on reopening schools safely and a full discussion on the education sector guidance on employees in the Covid-19 higher risk categories, including pregnant employees." They added: "In the particular case of advice around pregnant employees, this advice was prepared in consultation with the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the national professional and training body for obstetrics and gynaecology in Ireland, as well as other medical and public health professionals." Pregnant teachers worked remotely last year, but as of now they are expected to return to the classroom when schools reopen unless they are categorised as 'very high risk.' Certain accommodations are in place for pregnant teachers working in special education settings. Last week, the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) said pregnant teachers are "incredibly stressed out" at the idea of returning to classrooms full of unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students. Kieran Christie, the General Secretary of the ASTI, told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that pregnant teachers reaching out to the union are "very upset" and "losing sleep" over the issue. "It's simply unsustainable that pregnant teachers in the coming weeks going into schools will be doing so in terror and in fear of their health and the lives of themselves, and the worries that they have about the viability of the pregnancies," he said.