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Two relatives of the medical staff of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin have received the Covid-19 vaccines, it was confirmed today.
News followed that 16 family members of staff at Coombe Maternity Hospital also received the vaccine earlier this month.
The two members of the family are believed to belong to a “vulnerable group”.
In a statement today, the Rotunda said it received its first batch of 93 vials of the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine from the HSE on Wednesday, January 6, for the purpose of administering it to its staff.
The vaccine was licensed and approved for administration to staff of six doses from each vial.
“The Rotunda confirms that each of these six doses was administered to the staff working in the Rotunda.
“At the end of the first day of vaccine administration, the Rotunda vaccine administration team observed a small amount of vaccine residue in several vials that had been reconstituted, after administration of the approved number of six doses per vial. . In other words, there was excess vaccine in some vials.
“These remnants would have expired in several hours if they had not been used and would have been discarded.
“Instead of wasting any vaccine, and after immediate discussion with the leadership of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (CANI), the Rotunda requested expressions of interest from the local community, who could attend the hospital within an hour, before that these vaccines expire and who would be willing to accept these remaining unapproved vaccines. “
A spokeswoman said 37 people, including local GPs and members of other vulnerable groups, agreed to attend and take advantage of the remnants of unapproved vaccines.
“The Rotunda is of the opinion, and has the support of CANI, that this was the morally correct and an entirely appropriate response in the context of a pandemic, so that no vaccine was wasted and maximum benefit was achieved,” the hospital said. .
“It should be noted that even if Rotunda staff were able to attend on short notice to receive the remains of the vaccine, the hospital was not authorized to administer them.
“Similarly, the 37 non-Rotunda staff members who received the vaccines did so with full knowledge that they were receiving a carryover of unapproved vaccine.”
Meanwhile, Minister Simon Harris has raised concerns about the lack of clear protocols on “replacement” vaccines.
He said he was concerned that 16 vaccinations were given to family members of Coombe Hospital staff.
Speaking in government buildings, the Minister of Continuing Education said he would be very concerned if there is no established protocol on what to do with the remaining doses of vaccine.
“The idea that we had replacement vaccines, even though we only had 16 in this case, is a concept that I have a hard time understanding, because of course there are no replacement vaccines,” he said.
“Either it is a situation in which there is a protocol on what to do with the so-called replacement vaccines and that was not followed, or it is more worrying if there is no protocol.”
At tonight’s briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team, it was revealed that protocols for leftover vaccines were issued on January 12 – Family members of Coombe staff received surplus vaccines.
The protocol for remaining doses of the vaccine is that the names and contact details of 120 healthcare workers should be kept on hold, according to Dr. Vida Hamilton, national clinical adviser and group leader at the HSE.
“In case there are extra doses left or for some unanticipated reason someone scheduled couldn’t attend, they would have a list of staff they could go to on short notice to get those excess doses,” he said.
Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said that replacement vaccines should be used for those with “top priority.”
“People in leadership positions throughout the health system recognize their particular responsibilities not only to follow the highest standards, but also to be considered to maintain the highest standards in terms of supporting the distribution of the vaccine to groups. highest priority, ”he said.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was going to speak to Coombe today.
The maternity hospital teacher, Professor Michael O’Connell, apologized last night for giving vaccinations to family members of the staff.
According to the hospital, the decision was made so that no vaccine was wasted, after the workers and those who had been charged with administering the first dose had obtained it.
The hospital did not give details about the family members who received the vaccine, except to say that they were 16: nine were over 70 years old and seven were “of different ages.
Mr. Harris said he was very “concerned” to learn that replacement vaccines had been given to family members and that there is a “very clear” priority on who should get the vaccine.
“No one in their right mind is suggesting that vaccines should be thrown away,” he said.
“What should be there and that there is a very clear clinical prioritization in my understanding of who receives the vaccine.
“It’s very clear that the people who are getting vaccinated right now should be the front-line workers, health care staff, and people in nursing homes. And I am concerned that there are some front-line health workers in Ireland today who have not yet been able to get vaccinated.
However, he said there is no need for a specially appointed Minister of Vaccines to take over the launch of the vaccination program.
“I think at this stage, establishing an individual ministry would take more time and effort than we have, frankly.”
Online editors
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