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Political party leaders are lining up to receive the Covid vaccine on live television.
Leo Varadkar, Eamon Ryan, Mary Lou McDonald, Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall told the Irish Mirror that they would receive the jab in public in an attempt to boost public acceptance.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also said he would have no problem doing so as long as it was not part of a “public relations stunt.”
The next battle in the war against Covid will be to extend the vaccine to the four and a half million people in the country.
The vaccine will begin rolling out in Northern Ireland from Monday, with a vaccination schedule starting here “in a few weeks,” according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
But there is a problem with ‘vaccine vacillation’, as up to 35% of people have said in surveys that they would be reluctant to receive the vaccine that could save their lives.
US President-elect Joe Biden started the ball rolling in the US with his offer to get the vaccine in front of a television lice audience, and our leaders are now following his lead.
A spokesperson for Leo Varadkar said: “The Tánaiste would be very happy to receive the vaccine and to have it administered in public once the EMA approves it if that helps reassure people that the vaccine is safe.
“However, he is also very aware of the fact that he is not in a high risk or priority group and therefore should not be prioritized over those who are.”
His co-leader in the Government is also willing.
A Green Party spokesperson said: “Minister Ryan will take the vaccine as soon as it is available to him, according to the prioritization determined by health officials.
“You are also willing to do it publicly if you think it will help encourage others.
“There are currently no such plans.”
When asked if he would take the vaccine on television, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I don’t want to do some kind of PR opportunity, it wouldn’t be my agenda.
“I think the vaccine is very, very important and I will take it and have no difficulty in letting people know that, anyway, people want to make sure that I get vaccinated.”
Sinn Féin told the Mirror: “Mary Lou McDonald would be more than willing to do something similar.
“All politicians must do everything in their power to ensure maximum acceptance of the vaccine.”
And Labor is also keen to step up, with a spokesman telling the Mirror last night: “Labor Party leader Alan Kelly has been one of the most vocal supporters of vaccines in the Dáil, regularly advocating for greater acceptance of vaccines such as the flu and HPV vaccine.
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“Rep. Kelly will receive the Covid vaccine when it is available and in order of priority.
“The Labor Party has been calling for a strong public information campaign to challenge misinformation about the launch of the Covid vaccine.
“Our party leader has posted social media posts of him receiving the flu vaccine in the past and he has no problem receiving the Covid vaccine in a public place as part of a campaign to encourage adoption of the Covid vaccine.” .
A spokesman for the Social Democrats said that the party’s co-leaders will take the vaccine as soon as one is offered to them, and the party would be very happy to participate in measures that promote the widest possible acceptance of the vaccine.
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