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Annie Lynch has become the first person to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland.
The 79-year-old grandmother from Dublin received the puncture today at St James Hospital along with hospital health workers who were also vaccinated.
Annie lives in Drimnagh in Dublin, was born in Christchurch and grew up in Liberties.
Her husband John sadly passed away in September, four weeks before he was admitted to the hospital.
Mrs. Lynch has three children and ten grandchildren. He is currently a resident at the Mercer Institute for Successful Aging at St. James’s.
Speaking today, Annie said: “I feel very privileged to be the first person in Ireland to receive the vaccine.
“Like everyone else, I’ve been looking forward to the vaccine and I really feel like there’s a little bit of hope now.
“It’s great that he’s here. Everything was explained to me very clearly beforehand.”
Clinical nurse director Deborah Cross administered the first Covid-19 vaccine to Ms Lynch.
Sharing a snapshot of the moment on Twitter, Dr. Colm Henry, Head of HSE’s Clinical Office, said: “CNM Deborah Cross today administers the first vaccine in Ireland to the inspiring Annie Lynch of the Liberties at St James Hospital.”
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Bernie Waterhouse, a CNM who works in a COVID-19 ward at St. James Hospital, is the first healthcare worker in Ireland to receive the Covid 19 vaccine.
Bernie Waterhouse, a clinical nurse manager working in a Covid-19 ward in St James, was the first healthcare worker to receive the vaccine in Ireland.
When she got the vaccine, she said, “I wanted to get the vaccine to protect myself and the people I work with and care for every day, from Covid-19.”
The vaccines administered today correspond to the first delivery of 10,000 doses received by HSE on Stephens Day.
Ms. Lynch’s vaccine was the first Pfizer / BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine administered by vaccinators at four hospitals across the country: St James’s Hospital and Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Galway.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the four hospitals had initially received 500 doses of the vaccine each.
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Annie Lynch became the first person in the Republic of Ireland to receive the Covid 19 vaccine
Speaking on RTE Radio One’s News in one He added: “Today is a new day and marks a new chapter in our struggle. We see Annie vaccinated along with other people today and obviously that will increase very, very quickly.
“I was talking to Annie and her niece Amy today and it is a fantastic day.
“When I leave the hospital and go home without this vaccine, I would be in a situation where I could not see people, particularly with cases on the rise, so it is a wonderful moment of hope in our fight. . “
The Minister of Health also wanted to commemorate the day by thanking health workers for their hard work and dedication.
He said: “Today is a ray of light after what has been a difficult year in our country. It is a testament to the work of the medical and scientific communities that we now have safe and effective vaccines to help protect us against the devastating effects of Covid-19.
“Our healthcare workers have worked day and night to care for their patients during this pandemic. I would like to acknowledge their dedication and commitment, and thank them for the central role they will play as we move forward in the administration of vaccines.”
Executive Director of St James’ Hospital MAry Day said they are “very proud” to be the first hospital to receive the vaccine.
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Annie Lynch became the first person in the Republic of Ireland to receive the Covid 19 vaccine
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (INMO) said it is “a proud day for the profession.”
“It is a proud day for our profession. Nurses have been at the forefront of the Covid fight since the virus arrived. We are now taking these important steps against this horrible virus, ”said Karen McGowan, president of INMO and a nurse practitioner.
He added: “We are turning the corner, but it remains extremely important for everyone to follow the public health advice in the coming weeks to prevent our health service from being overwhelmed.”
The original start date for the launch of the vaccine was tomorrow, however it was brought forward a day and now St James Hospital will be the first site for the administration of the vaccine, unlike the original plan for a nursing home. .
This is because the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NIAC) said it would prefer a health care setting to be the first place where the vaccine is administered after some reports in the UK and the US of allergic reactions.
Professor Brian McCraith, chair of the Covid-19 Vaccination Task Force, said that they will begin administering vaccines to nursing homes next week and that if all goes well, all nursing home residents will be vaccinated in mid-September. February.
“Starting next week we are going to go to nursing homes and we have had a very good dialogue with the Tadhg Daly nursing homes in Ireland and there is a very advanced schedule for all those nursing homes,” he said.
“It is very fitting that those who probably suffered the most from this terrible pandemic will be priority number one and I think it is very positive that we can predict that all vaccinations (will be done) in nursing homes in mid-February.”
After nursing home residents, those over 70 are next in line to get the vaccine. Professor McCraith said that exactly how they will receive it will be “worked out,” but GPs and pharmacists will play an important role.
He added: “In the not too distant future, we will look for mass vaccination centers to adapt to the general population.”
After today’s shipment, the country currently has 40,000 vaccines, however, not all of them will be delivered quickly as two doses of Pfizer / BioNTech are needed and the task force wants to ensure that every person who receives the vaccine can receive one. vaccine. second dose.
Professor McCraith said that the AstraZeneca vaccine could be a game changer if approved for use by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
“In our model, the AstraZeneca vaccine would be available quite soon and within the advanced purchase agreement that Ireland is part of in the EU and that is the largest volume of vaccines that we can obtain is from AstraZeneca, that is 3.3 million”, explained.
“So it would be a game changer both in terms of scale and ease of use, as it can be stored in a routine refrigerator in a doctor’s office or pharmacy.”
Online editors
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