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Preparations are well on track to start the launch of a Covid-19 vaccination program starting next month in Northern Ireland, said Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann.
Plans include fixed centers of mass to receive the jab and the deployment of mobile units in residences.
A total of four million doses have been ordered, and between 5,000 and 8,000 vaccines are expected to be delivered per day. A total of 100,000 health workers are expected to be processed over three weeks.
Swann said: “The planned mass vaccination program will be a major logistical exercise that will last many months and will take us at least the middle of next year.
Vaccination will increasingly do the heavy lifting for us in 2021 in the battle against coronavirus
“While I am cautious by nature, I am optimistic that vaccination will increasingly do the heavy lifting for us in 2021 in the battle against coronavirus.
“I am also very encouraged by the magnitude of the preparatory work already done for a vaccination program in Northern Ireland.”
Regulatory approval has not yet been issued, so any planning will be tentative.
First groups
Stormont Prime Minister Arlene Foster said the vaccine launch presented huge logistical challenges and has established a task force to take the work forward.
Northern Ireland will be guided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization on which groups will receive the vaccine first.
Nursing home residents and health and social care workers are expected to be the priority groups, with additional groups in early 2021 to be based on age and clinical vulnerability.
Family physicians and community pharmacists will also have a key role to play as the program progresses next year, and a large number of staff have already been hired.
It is essential that people do not let their guard down against Covid-19 now
A public information campaign will foster buy-in and address issues regarding the safety and soundness of the regulatory process.
Mr. Swann added: “The progress towards a vaccine is very impressive and very welcome. However, I must reiterate that regulatory hurdles still need to be overcome, so we must not take anything for granted.
“It is essential that people don’t let their guard down against Covid-19 now, just because hopes are rising on the vaccine front.”
It comes as the region’s Health Department confirmed the death of eight other people with Covid-19, and another 442 confirmed cases of the virus were recorded.
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Work to prepare the distribution of a vaccine is also underway in the Republic, and the government is ready to receive an implementation plan in December.
Ireland has signed up for advance purchase orders of more than 10 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
The government is bidding for doses through the EU system and now has the ability to pre-order to comfortably provide enough vaccine for the entire country.
Europe’s drug watchdog said Thursday that it expects to receive the first request for conditional marketing approval for a Covid-19 vaccine “in the next few days.”
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