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Nearly 1,000 patients over the age of 85 will receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the Helix Theater in DCU today.
The first puncture was delivered to the GP-run vaccination center at 9.30am this morning.
In total, 960 patients over the age of 85 and 104 GPs are involved in this part of the vaccination rollout.
They are given the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine and will receive their second dose in four weeks.
Helix at DCU is one of three vaccination centers. Another at Munster Technical University in Cork will be operational next weekend, while a third at Merlin Park in Galway is still being installed.
A total of six clinics will run at Helix every second Saturday for patients over 70 from these 104 GP practices in the Dublin region.
The vast majority of people in this cohort will be able to receive their vaccination at their local GP’s office.
Dr. Maitiú O’Faoláin, who is the medical director of the vaccination clinics run by GPs, said 40 patients pass every ten minutes.
More than 1,000 people over the age of 85 are receiving their first dose of vaccine here at @DCU today @rtenews pic.twitter.com/yBlvfsTTvr
– Laura Hogan (@LauraHoganTV) February 20, 2021
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Dr. Ó Faoláin said that he has not met any patient who doubted and that there is great emotion. He said they have about ten minutes with each patient to chat.
“We are very aware that many of the patients have been trapped in their guts for the last year. They did not have Christmas with their families, they have not gone to their social clubs,” said Dr. Ó Faoláin.
“We recognize that this is both a medical and a social interaction, and at least more than one has put on their best tie and made up.”
Dr. Ó Faolain said that the joy of the patients this morning is “contagious” and is a “true privilege” for GPs.
“What you feel is hope,” says the Minister of Health. @DonnellyStephen today, as nearly 1,000 people over the age of 85 get vaccinated today @rtenews pic.twitter.com/EoiaeKBm5U
– Laura Hogan (@LauraHoganTV) February 20, 2021
The head of the high-level working group on vaccines on Covid-19, Professor Brian MacCraith, said that today brought an air of positivity and euphoria.
He said that for patients who get vaccinated it is “a release from the tyranny of this terrible disease.”
The clinic also gives people a glimpse into the future of deployment, as Helix’s capacity will be able to scale up to 5,000 vaccines per day, seven days a week in later phases of deployment.
He said that by next week, all residents and long-term care staff will have received their first dose, and the second dose will be ready by mid-March.
He said the same was true for healthcare workers.
The plan is to have two doses completed in nearly half a million people over the age of 70 by mid-May.
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