All-weekvaccines‘imperative’fornursinghomes

NURSING Homes Ireland has welcomed the commitment of the Minister for Health and HSE CEO Paul Reid that rollout of the vaccine will move to 35,000 doses this week and will move to seven days a week, incorporating all healthcare settings.

‘There is an overwhelming desire within the private and voluntary nursing home sector to accommodate and indeed assist to administer vaccination of residents and staff so the commitment to move to seven days is very positive,’ said Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO.

‘To facilitate timely rollout, nursing home staff who are experienced peer vaccinators require Covid-specific training to support in the administration of the vaccine to nursing home residents,’ he stated.

‘It is right that a priority within the vaccination rollout programme should be the 600 nursing homes across the country. There is great willingness within our sector to support efficiency and flexibility in enabling the rollout of the vaccine be achieved in as short a timeframe as possible.’

To this end, Mr Daly said the latest commitment would mean completion of the vaccination of nursing home residents in a shorter time period than the previous timeframe of the end of February, which is necessary as , he commented, we navigate ‘a very dangerous juncture’.

‘Vaccination is in sight for all nursing homes but the multiplying of cases in our communities has a direct consequence for nursing homes, with health experts nationally and internationally stating high-incidence in community has an inevitable impact on nursing homes.’

Mr Daly called for the public to heed health advice to support nursing home residents through the pandemic.

‘Every person’s actions have a real impact on our goal to suppress transmission of the virus. We urge people to be cognisant of nursing home residents, the most susceptible to the virus, and the staff striving to keep them safe.’