WOMEN in the first trimester of their pregnancy can take the Pfizer covid19 vaccine.

Director of women's health at the Health Ministry Dr Adesh Sirjusingh made this statement at the virtual health news conference on Monday.

Sirjusingh said, "As of Wednesday (August) 25, we will be rolling this out, at all of our sites currently administering Pfizer (to children 12-18).

"We are recommending the use of the Pfizer vaccine for pregnant women and of course regardless of nationality, after they have completed the first trimester ."

This is the first three months of pregnancy.

Sirjusingh said, "The process really is based on the advice of your health care provider."

He added that pregnant women who have completed their first trimester are not allowed to simply turn up at the Pfizer vaccination sites to be vaccinated.

"You have to go through your antenatal care provider, be it in the private sector...it could be your general practitioner...it could be your specialist obstetrician or gynaecologist...your local health centre or the hospital."

He said a new form has been created for eligible pregnant women. Sirjusingh said they should take the form along with their identification to the mass vaccination sites being used for the rollout of the children's vaccination.

"No consent is needed if you are over 18 years," he pointed out.

On arriving at the site, Sirjusingh advised women to indicate to the staff they are pregnant "and we will assist in fast-tracking you to get your vaccinations. This has already been arranged.'

He added there is an additional formal vaccination form which could be downloaded from the Health Ministry's website.

"This will make your process even faster."

Sirjusingh said pregnant women will be observed for 20 minutes after being vaccinated before they can leave.

He said pregnant women being referred through the private sector do not need this form. Instead a doctor could write a letter confirming the patient has completed her first trimester and can take the Pfizer vaccine.

He said the decision to allow these women to access the Pfizer vaccine was taken after a virtual meeting on August 17 involving Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha), the Medical Association and other local obstreticians and gynaecologists .

On breastfeeding mothers asking if they could get separate doses of the Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccine, Sirjusingh said, 'The answer is no. We don't currently want to complicate matters. We are sticking to the original approval...Sinopharm is for those (women) who have already delivered and are currently breastfeeding."

"For those who go into pregnancy and they have had their first dose of Sinopharm, at this time, we are not allowing the mixing of vaccines. You are not going to be eligible for this programme."

For pregnant women under 18 who complete