[ad_1]
Those over 65 in long-term care, frontline healthcare workers and people over 70 will be the first in Ireland to receive the Covid-19 vaccine once it is approved.
It comes when Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy, following Cabinet approval.
The minister also announced that there should be no barriers for people to access a vaccine and therefore the vaccine program will be available free of charge to everyone in Ireland.
Cabinet agrees how the COVID-19 vaccine will be administered
1 Adults> 65 years in long-term care
2 Frontline health workers
3 Those over 70 years
4 Others in contact with patients
5 People from 65 to 69 years old
6 key workers
7 people ages 18 to 64 with medical conditions or under treatment
8 Those in overcrowded conditions– Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) December 8, 2020
A cabinet memorandum presented by Donnelly was based on a report from the state Department of Health and the state’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
It prioritizes front-line health workers who are in direct contact with patients, people between the ages of 18 and 64 with medical conditions or under treatment, and people in crowded conditions.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told Dáil last week that people who work in high-risk environments, such as meat plants, could also be included.
A high-level task force, tasked with overseeing vaccine distribution logistics, is due to publish its report on Friday.
It is understood that the Government considers a public information plan on the launch of the vaccine to be of great importance, with a particular focus on an approach based on evidence, consultation and transparency.
We need your consent to upload this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage additional content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Review your data and accept it to load the content.Manage preferences
Latest coronavirus stories
Donnelly said, “While some may be tempted to let their guard down now that vaccines are on the horizon, it is vitally important to continue to follow public health guidelines.”
“Covid-19 is still a deadly disease. Through so much hard work and sacrifice, we now have the lowest 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in the EU. We are in a good position and we want to keep it that way. Please remember that every contact counts, “he added.
Also speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Donnelly said the decision on how to implement the Covid-19 vaccine marks “a good day” for Ireland at the end of a difficult year in the fight against the virus.
Donnelly said the prioritization was based on two objections: saving lives and reducing serious illness.
Those over 65 in long-term care, frontline healthcare workers and people over 70 will be the first in Ireland to receive the Covid-19 vaccine once it is approved. | Read more: https://t.co/OvKgsdw7sF pic.twitter.com/zoHieazrAl
– RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 8, 2020
Donnelly said the list was decided by the National Immunization Advisory Committee, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team and approved by Cabinet today.
He said the National Vaccine Working Group will brief the government on Friday on how to “implement and put into operation” the priority list.
He said those in long-term residential care are at the top of the list, as this group had the highest number of deaths during the first wave of the virus.
Likewise, he said that one in five cases of Covid-19 in the country occurs among health workers, so they are also a high-risk category.
He said the Department of Health, the task force, the Medical Director and NPHET will work to decide how to prioritize people within the categories – for example, those with a medical condition that puts them at risk.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in hospitals has dropped further to 215, the latest figures show.
Last night the number was 223.
Of the 215 hospitalized patients, the number in intensive care units remains unchanged at 28.
Meanwhile, the launch of a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has begun in Northern Ireland, while in Coventry, England, a 90-year-old grandmother became the first person in the world to receive a Covid-19 vaccine outside. of a clinical trial.
[ad_2]