There has been a “really good take-up” of COVID vaccines among pregnant women in the past week, according to the HSE.

Maternity campaigners and opposition politicians have criticised the HSE for failing to effectively communicate the benefits of vaccination to pregnant women, with vaccination rates running far behind that national average

HSE vaccination lead Damien McCallion told Newstalk that a renewed information campaign in recent days is paying dividends.

“We have seen really good take-up through the last week or so through the campaign and the work, particularly I think of the professional people on the ground,” he said.

“For people who are pregnant, the really important thing is that discussion with their caregiver, be that their midwife or consultant.

“I think that is where we are starting to see some of those conversations alongside the public information and the improved communication around that and hopefully that is starting to see some dividends.”

Ireland currently has one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe with 74% of the total population and 92% of the adult population fully vaccinated.

The vaccination rate among pregnant women has been running at between 25% and 40%.

“We have seen some improvement over recent weeks and that is through probably improved communication and through the work of the professional people that are working in the different maternity units around the country,” said Mr McCallion.

“So, all of our 19 units have been working to contact people and try and talk them through I suppose the benefits of the vaccine for them and some of the risks associated with not having the vaccine.”

When the vaccine was first made available to pregnant people in Ireland, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended it be reserve for women between 14 and 36 weeks of gestation.

That was opened up to women at all stages of pregnancy in September; however, critics have accused the HSE of failing to properly reassure pregnant people in the months since.

The HSE has noted that it has run campaigns aimed at pregnant people across radio and social media, with pop-up vaccine clinics run at a number of maternity hospitals.