Data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of Ireland: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Background Monitoring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection and vaccination during pregnancy is vital because of the increased susceptibility to severe disease. This article outlines the available data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates during pregnancy in Northern Ireland (NI) a...

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Main Authors: Richard A. Greene, Gillian M. Maher, Melissa Kelly, Julie Arnott, Joanne Given, Seamus Leonard, Helen Dolk, Ali S. Khashan, Mary T. O’Mahony, Mairéad Madigan, Maria Loane
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2025-03-01
Series:HRB Open Research
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Online Access:https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/7-77/v2
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author Richard A. Greene
Gillian M. Maher
Melissa Kelly
Julie Arnott
Joanne Given
Seamus Leonard
Helen Dolk
Ali S. Khashan
Mary T. O’Mahony
Mairéad Madigan
Maria Loane
author_facet Richard A. Greene
Gillian M. Maher
Melissa Kelly
Julie Arnott
Joanne Given
Seamus Leonard
Helen Dolk
Ali S. Khashan
Mary T. O’Mahony
Mairéad Madigan
Maria Loane
author_sort Richard A. Greene
collection DOAJ
description Background Monitoring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection and vaccination during pregnancy is vital because of the increased susceptibility to severe disease. This article outlines the available data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates during pregnancy in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and describes the processes, strengths, and weaknesses of available data. Methods Three data sources on COVID-19 vaccination and infection were identified in the ROI: the national computerized infectious disease reporting (CIDR) system used for reporting notifiable infectious diseases, the national dataset of all COVID-19 vaccinations for all residents (COVAX), and a regional Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System (MN-CMS), which includes data on COVID-19 vaccination and infection. Four data sources were identified in NI: the NI maternity system (NIMATS) records maternity data, including COVID-19 infection and vaccination during pregnancy; datasets of COVID-19 antigen testing performed in hospitals (Pillar 1) and in the community (Pillar 2); and the NI Vaccine Management System dataset of COVID-19 Vaccinations. Results In the ROI, the CIDR database allows for the calculation of COVID-19 infection rates in women of reproductive age; however, pregnancy status remains largely unreported. The COVAX dataset includes pregnancy status, although the accuracy depends on whether the pregnancy is known at the time of vaccination. The MN-CMS tracks COVID-19 infection and vaccination during pregnancy. However, there are uncertainties regarding its reliability. In NI, COVID-19 data are available for all pregnant women using Health and Care numbers to link the NIMATS data to testing and vaccination databases. Conclusions Both countries track COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates, but the strength of the NI system is the use of unique identification numbers that allow linkage of maternal records to infection and vaccination databases. Both countries face delays in data access, underscoring the need for real-time systems to support future pandemic preparedness.
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spelling doaj-art-e37f04fa410847c08afc3931a0a7175d2025-08-20T03:02:55ZengF1000 Research LtdHRB Open Research2515-48262025-03-01710.12688/hrbopenres.14011.215498Data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of Ireland: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]Richard A. Greene0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0247-523XGillian M. Maher1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6722-0484Melissa Kelly2https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3952-6053Julie Arnott3Joanne Given4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4921-1944Seamus Leonard5Helen Dolk6Ali S. Khashan7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7499-9406Mary T. O’Mahony8https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0574-7579Mairéad Madigan9https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2511-7201Maria Loane10National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, University College Cork, Cork, County Cork, T12 K8AF, IrelandINFANT Research Centre, University College Cork School of Public Health, Cork, County Cork, T12 K8AF, IrelandINFANT Research Centre, University College Cork School of Public Health, Cork, County Cork, T12 K8AF, IrelandUniversity College Cork School of Public Health, Cork, County Cork, T12 K8AF, IrelandUlster University Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT15 1ED, UKHSE National Immunisation Office, Dublin, D08 XW6R, IrelandSchool of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, BT48 7JL, UKINFANT Research Centre, University College Cork School of Public Health, Cork, County Cork, T12 K8AF, IrelandDepartment of Public Health HSE-South, St Finbarr's Hospital, Cork, T12 XH60, IrelandHealth Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, D01 A4A3, IrelandUlster University Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT15 1ED, UKBackground Monitoring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection and vaccination during pregnancy is vital because of the increased susceptibility to severe disease. This article outlines the available data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates during pregnancy in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and describes the processes, strengths, and weaknesses of available data. Methods Three data sources on COVID-19 vaccination and infection were identified in the ROI: the national computerized infectious disease reporting (CIDR) system used for reporting notifiable infectious diseases, the national dataset of all COVID-19 vaccinations for all residents (COVAX), and a regional Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System (MN-CMS), which includes data on COVID-19 vaccination and infection. Four data sources were identified in NI: the NI maternity system (NIMATS) records maternity data, including COVID-19 infection and vaccination during pregnancy; datasets of COVID-19 antigen testing performed in hospitals (Pillar 1) and in the community (Pillar 2); and the NI Vaccine Management System dataset of COVID-19 Vaccinations. Results In the ROI, the CIDR database allows for the calculation of COVID-19 infection rates in women of reproductive age; however, pregnancy status remains largely unreported. The COVAX dataset includes pregnancy status, although the accuracy depends on whether the pregnancy is known at the time of vaccination. The MN-CMS tracks COVID-19 infection and vaccination during pregnancy. However, there are uncertainties regarding its reliability. In NI, COVID-19 data are available for all pregnant women using Health and Care numbers to link the NIMATS data to testing and vaccination databases. Conclusions Both countries track COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates, but the strength of the NI system is the use of unique identification numbers that allow linkage of maternal records to infection and vaccination databases. Both countries face delays in data access, underscoring the need for real-time systems to support future pandemic preparedness.https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/7-77/v2COVID-19 infection Maternal and child health Pregnancy Administrative Health Data COVID-19 Vaccines eng
spellingShingle Richard A. Greene
Gillian M. Maher
Melissa Kelly
Julie Arnott
Joanne Given
Seamus Leonard
Helen Dolk
Ali S. Khashan
Mary T. O’Mahony
Mairéad Madigan
Maria Loane
Data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of Ireland: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
HRB Open Research
COVID-19 infection
Maternal and child health
Pregnancy
Administrative Health Data
COVID-19 Vaccines
eng
title Data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of Ireland: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full Data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of Ireland: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_fullStr Data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of Ireland: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full_unstemmed Data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of Ireland: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_short Data sources on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of Ireland: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_sort data sources on covid 19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy on the island of ireland strengths weaknesses and recommendations for future pandemic preparedness version 2 peer review 2 approved
topic COVID-19 infection
Maternal and child health
Pregnancy
Administrative Health Data
COVID-19 Vaccines
eng
url https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/7-77/v2
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