‘IT’S A SMOOTH SYSTEM’
THE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAMME IS NOW IN FULL SWING AND MEDICS IN KERRY ARE IMPRESSED
THE roll-out of the Covid vaccine in Kerry is slightly ahead of schedule with hundreds of medical staff receiving the vaccine since last Tuesday.
On Sunday it was the turn of staff from the Bon Secours in Tralee, the vast majority of whom were vaccinated over 12 hours on Sunday at University Hospital Kerry’s (UHK) specially designated Covid-19 vaccination area.
Working in 10 teams of two, backed up by six administrative staff, the Bon Secours vaccination teams provided the Covid jab to 570 staff – from all departments and of all levels – of the private hospital between 7.30am and 7.30pm on Sunday.
While UHK’s vaccination area was used, the Bon Secours predominantly carried out its own staff vaccinations with some support from UHK.
Though the vaccinations could be given at the Bon Secours, the decision was taken to move the mass vaccination to UHK so that details of all shots given could be immediately uploaded to the HSE’s computerised ‘ Covax’ monitoring system.
Bon Secours management said the HSE is keen to ensure that, wherever, possible data is uploaded to the system in real time so that the information on the vaccine roll out is as up-to-date as possible.
Entering the data immediately also cuts down on errors that can tend to arise when the data of hundreds of patients is being entered into a database later and in one go.
The system in place at UHK sees patient details and consent forms taken and uploaded to the Covax system by one vaccine team member as the second prepares and administers the shot.
The information uploaded to the central system includes not only the vaccine batch number but the serial number of the six shot vial the patient’s dose came from.
After receiving the vaccine the patient – who will have already received a detailed information pack on the vaccine – is then monitored for 15 minutes to ensure no adverse reactions and sent home. The process is designed to be quick, efficient and to minimise contact among those waiting.
Before it is administered, the vaccine is stored in a secure lab fridge to keep it at the necessary temperature. The Pfizer/BioNTech that is currently being issued in Ireland must be kept at -70C degrees while being stored and transported. Once delivered to a vaccination centre it will then last five days in a 2C to 8C cooler.
Bon Secours Manager TJ O’Connor said he was impressed by how well the system operates.
“How quickly the vaccine can be rolled out depends entirely on the processes you have in place. The system at UHK is excellent,” he said.
“They’ve been doing it for a few days now and they have it down to a nice smooth, slick system. In general I’m impressed with how the vaccination programme is going so far.”
THEY’VE BEEN ROLLING OUT THE VACCINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEY HAVE IT DOWN TO A VERY SLICK SYSTEM