A Dundee couple’s dreams of having a baby in 2022 have been shattered after a devastating call from NHS Tayside suspending their IVF treatment due to Covid vaccine rules.
Georgia and Michaela Gaffney were told their fertility treatment will be stopped immediately – because they are unvaccinated against Covid-19.
The pair, who own barbers businesses in Carnoustie and Dundee, have been trying for a baby for five years.
They were told in a phone call from a nurse at Ninewells Hospital’s Assisted Conception Unit then sent a letter of confirmation this week.
The news follows the Scottish Government’s decision to suspend fertility treatment for unvaccinated women – which was branded ‘inhumane’ by Labour MSP Jackie Baillie.
Georgia, 29, explains: “We are not anti-vaxxers, we were told at the start of Covid that it may not be safe for pregnant women, or those becoming pregnant, to get the jags.
“We were advised not to get it. Now that has changed. So obviously it’s still a worry to us.
‘In shock’
“We were in such shock after the phone call. We felt we were so close to the stage of having a baby. The vaccination status was never a problem or issue at all before.”
The Scottish Government now urges all pregnant women to be vaccinated and has stopped all IVF treatment until February 2022 over concerns around ‘increased levels of risk of severe illness amongst unvaccinated pregnant women’.
Many people have messaged us saying they’re in the same situation.”
“It isn’t mandatory to be vaccinated for Covid-19 except with this,” says Georgia. “I don’t understand why there is a choice for other vaccines but not this.
“My wife and I have discussed having the vaccinations. Michaela has suffered miscarriage in the past. So we feel three vaccines is a lot.”
Anyone who isn’t vaccinated now must wait until having their booster to restart IVF treatment. The Gaffneys are unsure where they stand regarding future treatment.
‘Drug tests, injections and scans’
“There weren’t any discussions with us beforehand,” Georgia continues. “They’ve just stopped it. We’ve had many people messaging us saying they’re in the same situation.
“We first went on the list in 2017 and you move your way up the list. You have to go to counselling, smoking tests, drug tests, injections, scans etc.
“To put yourself through that to potentially have a child and then have it taken away is so hard.
‘Symptoms of menopause’
“We had just got to the final stages, the hormone treatment. So, my wife has been going through treatments taking nasal sprays four times a day.
“This pretty much puts your body through symptoms of menopause. She was freezing, sweating, feeling sick, changes in appetite and other symptoms.
“Michaela is 32 and it is a worry that all these hormones have been put into her and now it’s just been stopped abruptly. That can’t be good for anyone.
“This is one of the things you do before egg harvesting so that’s the point we were at. Our next step was egg retrieval.
“But we’ve been given nothing in the way of advice or what to do next. We are not getting more treatment unless we’re vaccinated.
“Even after that, we don’t know if we go back to the bottom of the list. Nobody has explained.”
National advice
NHS Tayside says: “Anyone whose treatment is deferred will be treated once fully vaccinated or boosted, or once the Scottish Government decision is reversed.
“NHS Tayside has consistently followed national advice and you will appreciate that advice has changed for pregnant women, and those trying for a baby, over the course of the pandemic as more has become known about vaccination.
“National advice has been clear for some time that everyone should be vaccinated. The decision regarding vaccination applies to the person undertaking treatment to carry a pregnancy, but we would encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted.”
Risks of Covid-19
A Scottish Government spokesperson says: “The Covid-19 vaccines are safe and strongly recommended in pregnancy to reduce the significant risks of Covid-19 to unvaccinated pregnant women and their babies.
“We will continue to review the evidence, as well as the prevailing levels of Covid-19, during January and February to determine when treatment of unvaccinated women can recommence, or whether a further deferral is necessary.”
Friends and family have set up a JustGiving page in the hope they can help fund private IVF treatment for Georgia and Michaela.
