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The executive director of the Health Services Executive has said they still have to work on “some of the unknowns” regarding the Covid-19 vaccine program before their report is delivered to the government on Tuesday for consideration.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, Paul Reid said he is aware that “there is a great desire” to know what happens next.
He said: “It will be a while before the vaccine becomes our first line of defense,” but added that what should happen next is well planned.
“That report establishes a whole set of areas that we are focused on, such as logistics, transportation, security, population sequencing, identification of the sites where we will carry out vaccinations, the workforce including GPs. and pharmacies, the reporting arrangements, the IT system and the data issues that we are working on, so there are some unknowns that we are working on in the next short time, “added Mr. Reid.
He said they will collaborate with GPs once the government has had a chance to study the report.
He said: “There is a timeline in which various workforces will be put in place.”
Mr. Reid said there are six different vaccines in total and they all have different transport requirements.
He said: “I think the vaccine and what has emerged in recent weeks is giving the country great hope and inspiration.”
He said that communications will be key but for some time we will need to continue with public health measures.
Reid said he hopes people will be able to enjoy the All Ireland game today and the celebrations afterward, but is asking people to do so safely.
He said they are asking people not to ruin the occasion or Christmas by socializing with too many people.
Reid said, “The mix will make the disease spread very quickly.”
Read the latest stories about coronavirus
The latest figures from the Government show that there are 192 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 31 are being cared for in ICU beds.
In Northern Ireland, there have been four more Covid-19-related deaths, bringing the official death toll from the Department of Health to 1,124.
It also registered 483 new cases of the virus, bringing the cumulative total to 58,216.
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