IVF for unvaccinated Scots women set to return as covid jab restriction lifted

Scotland's chief medical officer has confirmed IVF treatment for unvaccinated woman can resume. The decision to restart such treatment came after data emerged over the last four to six weeks showing a reduced risk of severe disease among those who have not received the Covid vaccine, Professor Sir Gregor Smith has said.

As long as the woman were "fully informed" about the risks of not having the vaccine, Professor Smith said fertility treatment could resume.After the Omicron variant saw the number of infections surge across Scotland, Health boards stopped offering fertility treatment to patients who were not fully vaccinated in January.When the chief medical officer made the decision he said the situation would continue to be reviewed.Professor Smith said: "When I recommended a pause in fertility treatment in January for women who are not fully vaccinated, I said that would be reviewed alongside emerging evidence of risk and levels of Covid in the community."Data from Public Health Scotland demonstrates that both Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations are stabilising, and a reduced proportion of cases are resulting in hospitalisations, following the emergence of Omicron as the dominant variant."While data specifically on pregnant women is very limited, the available data on unvaccinated individuals suggests that the risk of severe disease requiring hospital or critical care admission has reduced over the last four to six weeks."He added: "I am recommending that this treatment can recommence so long as women affected are fully informed both of the risks of non-vaccination and also of the extensive evidence concerning the safety of vaccines in pregnant women, those planning pregnancy or undergoing fertility treatment."I