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It’s the news the country has been waiting for: the first batches of Pfizer-BioNtech’s covid-19 vaccines will arrive in Ireland today.
HSE CEO Paul Reid said this morning that he will join senior staff to receive more than 10,000 doses today. Millions more will arrive in the coming weeks.
“An early morning start to a momentous day,” said the HSE director, posting the news we were all waiting for on social media.
“Leaving to receive the first delivery of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for HSE. There will surely be better days ahead.”
The news comes after the number of daily cases of the virus reached 1,025 last night, a soaring infection rate that had not been seen since October 22.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said he was “delighted” to sign the regulation authorizing the use of the jab, which doctors will begin administering to the most vulnerable from Wednesday.
And just before lunchtime today, the Minister was photographed standing next to a refrigerator containing some of the first doses to arrive in Ireland.
The Health Minister said: “The first doses have just arrived and many of them are in that very, very cold refrigerator. We will start vaccinating in four days.”
An HSE spokesperson told CorkBeo today that a nationwide distribution program is being finalized and that we can expect news on when and where the first vaccine will be administered in Cork “in the next few days.” The first could take place on Wednesday at Cork University Hospital.
(Image: Getty Images)
The news could hardly have come at a more crucial time in the fight against covid-19 in Ireland, as Dr. Tony Holohan confirmed that the highly infectious new variant of the virus had been detected in the east of the country.
The increase in confirmed coronavirus infections last night was the largest in more than two months.
The 1,025 cases were just below the October record of 1,054 and it was the first time since October 25 that the 24-hour total exceeded the 1,000 mark.
Two more people died to bring Ireland’s death toll to 2,194.
Since March, 84,098 people have tested positive.
But there was also a glimmer of hope when Health Minister Stephen Donnelly signed the regulation allowing the use of the Pfizer vaccine in Ireland.
He said he was “delighted” to report that the first delivery of nearly 10,000 dose vials will arrive today.
The first jab will be administered Wednesday to vulnerable citizens in nursing homes and frontline workers, the first to be vaccinated.
More than 600,000 people have already received their first dose in the UK.
The vaccines here will be carried out at key large hospital sites and CUH is expected to be the site for the first launch of the vaccines in Cork.
Dr Holohan said that Ireland now has the “fastest growing” Covid-19 incidence rate in the European Union, urging people to limit their contacts. He added: “More tests in the coming days and weeks will establish to what extent [SARS-CoV-2] is present here.
“In the meantime, it is vitally important that we all stay home, avoid social contact, and avoid all forms of non-essential travel.
“It is particularly important that those who have arrived from the UK strictly isolate themselves for a full 14 days after arrival.
“They should not interact with others, visit others, socialize or go shopping.”
Dr Holohan also confirmed that the HSE is making arrangements to screen people who have recently arrived here from the UK. He insisted that the best Christmas gift the Irish can give to their families and loved ones is to strictly follow public health guidelines and advice.
The Level 5 restrictions went into effect Thursday when restaurants, pubs and cafes closed their doors and only take out and home delivery services were offered.
The curbs will be phased in over the Christmas period and fully effective on New Years Day.
The government has prepared the public to be ready for the long term, as it warned that the restrictions could be in place for months.
Inter-county travel will be banned starting today.
In the past few days, NPHET issued a new notice to the government recommending that all non-essential retailers be closed beginning on St. Stephen’s Day.
The ‘R’ number, or the rate at which the coronavirus can replicate and infect others, in Ireland is currently estimated at between 1.5 and 1.8, which is the highest since April.
However, speaking on Christmas Eve, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that the government had issued its guidelines and would not meet again to reconsider the measures until next Tuesday.
Beginning January 1, no inter-household gatherings will be allowed in private homes and gardens.
The current measures that allow the visits of two other households to a private home or garden will end tomorrow.
Another household will be allowed to visit until New Years Eve before a visiting ban takes effect, other than essential purposes.
The full Level 5 adjustments include nonessential retail being able to remain open, with the guidance that stores do not conduct January sales.
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