Policy not to vaccinate pregnant, nursing mothers came from Kane Health Dept. staff
In an emailed statement, Kane County Health Department spokeswoman Susan Stack said the previous policy not to vaccinate pregnant or breastfeeding women for COVID-19 "was an advisory from the health department staff."
After news reports of pregnant and lactating women being turned away from getting vaccinated - despite recommendations from health experts that it is their choice to receive the vaccine shots - the health department reversed itself this week.
As to what the department will do for the women it turned away, Stack's email stated, "We will do our best to reach out to those women."
Board member Jarett Sanchez, a Democrat from Carpentersville and chairman of the public health committee, said at Tuesday morning's county board meeting that the details of how that policy came forward would have to be discussed in closed session.
"As far as what happened - that really gets us into a personnel issue," Sanchez said. "So that is something can discuss in closed session today if you like. Otherwise what's current and going into the future, we have reversed the practice, so all pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are able get a vaccine through Kane County ... and people who have been previously denied have been contacted and asking them if they still need to get a vaccine to please come in and we'll get them in right away."
Sanchez had said last week the policy did not come from the county board.
The health department has apparently gotten rid of the question on its application for a coronavirus vaccine, "Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?"
Kane County Coroner Rob Russell took a photo of the application Friday that shows a line drawn through that question. Russell said he was filling out the form to get his second dose of vaccine.
The health department had also sent a news release last week to clarify its policy.
The news release stated that "pregnant and lactating people may choose to receive COVID vaccines, KCHD is providing vaccines to pregnant and lactating women who choose to be vaccinated." The news release stated the clarification was based on consultation with Illinois Department of Public Health, and with the guidance of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists and Centers for Disease Control.