Beacon Hospital handed over leftover vaccines to teachers

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Beacon Hospital has confirmed that it administered 20 leftover Covid-19 vaccines to several teachers at St Gerard’s School in Bray earlier this week.

In a statement, the hospital apologized for the discomfort caused by the move, acknowledging that “the decision was not in line with the sequencing guidelines established by the HSE.”

St Gerard’s School in Bray has said it will not comment on the matter.

The vaccines, first reported by the Irish Daily Mail, saw 20 leftover AstraZeneca vaccines to be used in “a very short period of time” last Tuesday night.

The hospital said that since it was the AstraZeneca vaccine, “there were limitations as to who could get it.”

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid said it is “extremely upsetting and frustrating” for the public and for the HSE when incidents like this occur.

Mr. Reid said that HSE expects everyone to adhere to the vaccine guidelines, adding that there is very clear guidance on this.

He said: “It is difficult for us to reach out and be aware of all the ongoing vaccination processes, but there are very clear guidelines and we cannot tolerate when something like this happens.”

Reid said there were clear guidelines on a regular basis that there can be no ambiguity about how vaccine clinics are organized and how backup lists should be organized ahead of time.

“We really hope that all services comply with this. We understand that when they open there is a period of time where the seal is broken and must be used.

“But it has to be planned in terms of getting to the final stages of the day of how many to open and knowing you have a backup list that would be in line with our sequencing protocols,” he said.

Teachers are included in Cohort 11 of the vaccine implementation program, while the program is currently in the process of vaccinating Cohort 4.

The hospital said that on Tuesday, there were “more than 200 HSE no-shows” to scheduled vaccine appointments, as a result of people being booked twice at Aviva Stadium.

“Beacon Hospital contacted HSE immediately, and most of these over-vaccinations were subsequently used by HSE staff who were redirected to Beacon Hospital throughout the afternoon,” the hospital said.

“In accordance with the zero waste policy, the decision was made to administer the leftover vaccine to teachers who were able to reach the Center within the exceptionally short time required,” he added.

Beacon Hospital CEO Micheal Cullen said he acknowledged that the decision made “was not in line with the sequencing guidelines established by the HSE.

“However, it was done under time pressure and in order to ensure that the vaccine was not wasted.

“I sincerely apologize for the upset this decision has caused and we are updating our focus to our endorsement list to ensure this situation does not re-emerge.”

Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has called for an investigation into the measure, saying that “the incident between two private institutions, eight miles apart, smelled of the wealthy taking care of the wealthy.”

He added: “It is beyond shocking that any hospital or facility is distributing the vaccine without adhering to the strict guidelines set forth by the HSE.

“Public confidence in implementation is rapidly eroding. If there is a risk that vaccination will be wasted, it is the front-line workers and groups at risk who must accelerate.”

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said that there is a very clear protocol regarding the vaccination program and that there should not be a situation where people “randomly” receive one.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Ms. McEntee said she was frustrated to hear this is happening.

She said the vaccination categorization exists for a reason and it’s about working on that list and having people on hold as you go through the list.

“There shouldn’t be a situation where people randomly or make a decision to get off that list,” he said.

McEntee said the protocols have been emphasized multiple times, adding that any deviation off the list is a matter for the HSE CEO or those managing hospital groups to decide what happens.

He said it has left people frustrated and losing faith in the system.

“Really difficult for people to understand”

Aoife Stokes, whose 64-year-old mother is Category 4 on the priority vaccine list and is also a Beacon Hospital patient undergoing cancer treatment, said she is “absolutely livid.”

Speaking on the same show, he said it is “absolutely shocking” that given the similar incidents above, people like his mother were not considered for a waiting list.

She said they live closer to the Beacon than where St Gerard’s School is located in Bray.

“It’s really hard for people like us to understand,” Stokes said.

“I’m sure Beacon has all the information on who lives nearby and who might be called in in the short term to get the vaccine and yet we can’t even get a response from Beacon or HSE. Until when she or her cohort will get the vaccine. vaccine “.

She said she had contacted her mother’s GP to receive a vaccine and was told that it is the responsibility of the hospital where she is being treated to administer a category 4 vaccine.

Ms. Stokes said she later called the Beacon and was told that she was waiting for news from the HSE about the vaccines.

“My mother called the HSE again yesterday and wondered when the Beacon would get that information or what was happening, and the woman she spoke to at the HSE told her that she would consider calling a GP after hours.”

Stokes said they live 10-15 minutes from Beacon Hospital and it is “very difficult to understand” how a hospital that treats patients like his mother does not put them on a waiting list when they are in an active category.

He said there is “no way of knowing” when his mother should get the vaccine.

Her mother isn’t looking for special treatment and doesn’t want to skip the line, Stokes said, but she “can’t understand” how people like her mother in the Beacon’s care weren’t seen as a priority or not a waiting list.

“She’s really mad at how difficult it has been to get answers,” Stokes said. “And then see what’s going on … it’s very difficult.”



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