[ad_1]
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has told Dáil that there will be a “sea change” in the launch of the vaccine starting in April.
He told Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane that Ireland is still on track to have received 1.1 million doses of vaccines by the end of this month, which would also mark the end of the first quarter.
The minister cautioned, however, that this meant deliveries would arrive on time.
Ireland expects more than 1 million doses of vaccine per month for April, May and June.
However, the co-leader of the Social Democrats pointed out that in the first three weeks of March 680,000 vaccines had been supplied.
Róisín Shortall said that there is “a big gap to fill if we want to achieve that goal” and that he does not see how it could be achieved.
The Taoiseach has previously said that the government expected to administer 1.1 million doses of vaccines by the end of the first quarter.
.@DonnellyStephen Says If Pharmaceutical Companies Deliver Agreed Amounts In Coming Months Then “Four Out Of Five Adults In Ireland May Be Offered One Or Two Doses Of Vaccine By The End Of June” | More: https://t.co/dSnGMd10VP pic.twitter.com/MvocMfdyxm
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 25, 2021
Mr. Cullinane said that we are entering a very critical stage in the launch of the vaccine.
He told the Dáil that the people had done their part, but in return, they expect efficient administration of the vaccines.
The Waterford TD also called for a tightening of testing and tracking, telling the minister that it never believed Ireland fully understood it.
He said a “deep retrospective” contact tracing was required.
Labor leader Alan Kelly said he could not understand why many people, who were willing to administer vaccines, encountered obstacles when it came to signing up.
Kelly said that many retired GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals were having a hard time signing up.
He said this was also the case for medical students nearing the end of their studies.
“I have no idea why we need birth certificates, Junior certificates or any of these things,” he said.
Kelly said it would be “criminal” if Ireland found itself in a position where there were not enough vaccinators.
.@rtenews Last Sunday, within the framework of the national vaccination program, 6 second doses were administered to people. pic.twitter.com/YuhJueN9vy
– Fergal Bowers (@FergalBowers) March 25, 2021
Donnelly said that he heard about this issue and that after following up with the HSE, much of what he heard turned out to be “not the case.”
He said that medical students are already administering vaccines, as is the case with retirees. However, he said that if the process was too complicated, he would seek to correct it.
More than 10,000 vaccinators have been recruited, the minister said, and that continues to grow.
“We are not going to have enough vaccines as things are going”@alankellylabour question @DonnellyStephen Why can’t recruitment criteria be broadened, adding that it would be “criminal” not to have enough vaccinators | More: https://t.co/dSnGMd10VP pic.twitter.com/dGLswk4jy4
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 25, 2021
Ms. Shortall echoed those concerns, telling Mr. Donnelly that there are “big problems there, we’re all getting complaints about it.”
He said the application form is 14 pages long and does not have a phone number for people to call.
Ms Shortall also told the minister that people had complained about the loss of their data and that applicants were being asked “repeatedly the same questions and for the same information.”
She asked Mr. Donnelly to “fix them, we can’t afford any more trouble in this area.”
Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness said the 10-person limit at funerals was “ridiculous” and many people were questioning the logic behind such guidelines.
Read more:
Latest coronavirus stories
[ad_2]