Taoiseach to register for jab through new portal in weeks ahead
TAOISEACH Micheál Martin, who will be entitled to get his Covid-19 vaccine in the coming weeks as he is 60, will register for his jab through the new online booking system.
The portal opened for those aged 65 to 69 yesterday, with 26,000 people booking their jab appointments. Around 5% of these booked by phone using the HSE’s dedicated helpline.
The HSE predicts it will take six weeks to administer first doses to the estimated 420,000 people in the 60-69 cohort who need jabs, a process that begins next week. A number of TDs previously told the Irish Daily Mail they were concerned about vaccine hesitancy among this cohort following the restricted use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
However, this does not appear to be the case based on yesterday’s numbers signing up.
The AstraZeneca jab is currently only being used for this cohort, and those who have already had AZ as their first shot, after severe clotting events were reported across Europe as very rare sideeffects from the vaccine.
The rollout of the AZ jab was temporarily halted here in Ireland, before recommencing; now the vaccine is recommended only for those aged 60-69, as well as for those who have already received their first dose. HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry wrote to acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn seeking clarity on the restricted use.
One recommendation by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee is that it could be used in adults under 60 ‘where the benefits clearly outweigh the risk for that individual and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits’.
However, Dr Henry said Dr Glynn clarified it should strictly only be used for those aged 60-69. Those under 60 who have already had a first dose of AZ will also get the jab. HSE CEO Paul Reid said it had been an ‘extremely challenging… rollercoaster of a week’ with the supplies of vaccines fluctuating dramatically.
Around 50,000 fewer jabs will be given this week as a result of the issues with AstraZeneca, with a total of around 140,000 vaccines now to be delivered this week. Mr Reid said 140,000-160,000 doses will be administered next week.
To compound the difficulties facing the Government and health chiefs, on Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson suspended the rollout of its vaccine, after rare blood clotting events were reported in six cases in the US.
The first shipment of the J&J jab arrived the following day and remains in storage.
The HSE is due to receive 604,8000 doses of the single-shot J&J jab in April, May and June.
The European Medicines Agency is due to provide an assessment on the safety of the vaccine next week. Mr Reid said he was hopeful it would get the green light after this revision.
On Wednesday, the European Commission announced that an addition 50million Pfizer doses – 545,000 of which would go to Ireland – would arrive between April and June. The HSE is awaiting clarity on exactly when these additional doses will arrive.
Separately, the Cabinet is also considering a plan that will see a
‘Rollercoaster of a week’
Revised forecasts will be provided
delay in doses for those aged under 50 in a bid to accelerate the number of people with at least one dose of the jab.
Mr Reid said revised forecasts on the pace of the rollout will be provided in the coming weeks once uncertainties over supply, restarted use of the respective vaccines and dosing intervals are finalised. The HSE is still having difficulties identifying high-risk patients with underlying medical conditions in Cohort Four. So far, 76,331 first doses have been administered to the estimated 250,000 people in this cohort.