Chong said allowing pregnant women to get vaccinated easily would help expedite the process of achieving herd immunity as well as provide protection for the women and their babies as soon as possible.

“Please simplify the procedures for pregnant women to walk into national vaccination centres or clinics which offer Covid-19 vaccinations nearest to them,” said Chong. “It should be easy and convenient to both sides – the national vaccination centres and pregnant women.”

Chong said she has been approached by some expressing concern over vaccination for pregnant women, especially those who are in the second and third trimester (14 to 33 weeks of pregnancy).

She also quoted a media report from last month in which vaccination coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said only the Pfizer vaccine was allowed for pregnant women between weeks 14 and 33, adding that other pregnant women should defer vaccination until after childbirth.

Khairy also said he had asked the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force to coordinate with hospitals and the respective specialists to make the necessary arrangements so pregnant women are given priority to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Recently, FMT reported that a campaign had been launched to push for clear guidelines about vaccinations for expectant mothers, with MPs like Yeo Bee Yin and Teo Nie Ching lending support to the initiative.

Liyana Helmy Had, who launched the petition, had questioned how expectant women would be identified under the immunisation programme as the MySejahtera application does not require applicants to declare if they are pregnant.

Khairy later announced a new feature to be added to the MySejahtera application to identify pregnant and breastfeeding women to ensure they are administered the recommended Covid-19 vaccine, with lactating or breastfeeding mothers able to receive both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines while those who are pregnant will be limited to Pfizer.