Taoiseach ‘disappointed’ with aspects of vaccine supply

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is disappointed “with some of the problems” with the vaccine supply in the first three months of this year.

Follow this morning’s reports of a significant shortfall in the planned supply of vaccines to Ireland for the end of March.

On his way to Cabinet, Mr. Martin said that in terms of protecting the most vulnerable, the impact of vaccines is very positive.

He said that the most vulnerable are getting vaccinated and that will have an impact.

“So when we get to the week before April 5, we will look at the situation,” Martin said.

He said the government will take the advice of public health experts and study what could be facilitated at that time, including outdoor sports activities.

When asked if he would approach the British prime minister to share a surplus of vaccines, Martin said Boris Johnson has made it “clear” to him that his first priority is to vaccinate his people.

However, he added that it would be helpful to Ireland if the situation arose.

The Taoiseach said the bigger picture right now is in vaccine manufacturing capacity and that vaccine deployment will pick up in the second quarter.

Minister Simon Harris has said the government will focus on a “slow, steady and cautious” reopening of society.

Also on his way to the cabinet, Continuing and Higher Education Minister Harris said it is too early to speculate “beyond where we are now” and that the government will review the restrictions before April 5.

He said the vaccine supply has been really difficult to predict and described Ireland as at the mercy of supply at the moment.

Harris said, however, that he believes he is still on track to meet key goals, one of which is that 82% of adults will have received a first dose in June.

He said that there will be a very significant increase in launch in the coming weeks.

He also said he thinks this week could be a “good week” with a potential fourth vaccine coming online.

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Professor of Biochemistry at Dublin’s Trinity College School of Immunology, Luke O’Neill, said the pace of the vaccine launch here is “disappointing” but “it appears that Ireland is guaranteed a certain level of supply and then your supply chain. ” is affected. ”

Speaking on RTE’s Today with Claire Byrne, she also said that “more and more” evidence is emerging that the vaccine is blocking transmission of Covid-19, although new variants remain a concern.

Meanwhile, the latest HSE figures show that as of last Saturday, 523,069 doses of Covid-19 were administered, of which 373,149 were first doses and 149,920 were second doses.

By Saturday, 97,672 first doses were given to category 3 people, mostly those 85 years and older.

Some vaccines have been given to people ages 80 to 84.

Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals has dropped below 400 for the first time this year.

New figures from the Health Services Executive put the number at 392 last night.

It marks a reduction of 26 patients with respect to what was reported yesterday morning.

The number of patients in intensive care is 101, a small reduction from yesterday’s situation. Daily hospital admissions have been declining in recent weeks.

Ireland is in the last stages of the third wave of Covid-19 and all key indicators are improving.

The National Public Health Emergency Team has said there is sustained and “perhaps even accelerated progress in suppressing the transmission of Covid-19.”

The Department of Health reported 437 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday, bringing the total to 223,651.

No more deaths were recorded, which means the death toll remains at 4,422.

Try to vaccinate the majority of Group 4 at the end of March

The HSE infection control clinical leader has said the goal is to vaccinate as many Group 4 people as possible before the end of the month.

The launch of vaccines to people in Group 4 includes all people aged 16 to 69 who are at very high risk of contracting Covid-19 disease.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Professor Martin Cormican said that there is “a compromise between being fast and being perfect” and the HSE is not going to wait for a “perfect roster” before starting this group.

He said that without a central registry of people with serious illnesses in certain categories, it will take time to identify some people with certain types of cancer, kidney disease, neurological and immunosuppressed conditions.

However, he said it is a challenge that the HSE is happy to have and will work through hospitals and GPs initially and then through community services to identify those who meet the criteria for this group.

Professor Cormican also said that HSE is planning to seek guidance for nursing home visits in light of the vaccination program and plans to introduce “a progressive improvement in opportunities” for visits.

He said the existing policy allows visits on a limited basis for most people or for critical or compassionate reasons once there is no Covid-19 outbreak in the nursing home.

Previously, the president of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that pregnant women and all women of reproductive age be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Dr Cliona Murphy said that vaccinating large numbers of healthcare workers in Ireland, some of whom were pregnant, has helped to gather observational information, showing no adverse outcomes in pregnant women beyond what occurs in the general population.

Speaking about the same program, Dr. Murphy also said that those with a history of recurrent miscarriage have no reason to avoid the vaccine and those undergoing IVF treatment could safely continue a few days after receiving the second dose. of the vaccine.



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