HSE says booster shot is incoming
COVID boosters will be offered to vulnerable people and those at greatest risk of the disease from next week, Paul Reid confirmed.
People who are eligible for the top up will start to receive their appointments most likely by the end of next week, the HSE chief executive said.
The third dose of vaccine would top up the immunity of those whose protection have likely waned off following their first and second shots earlier this year.
Mr Reid said it will take between five and six weeks to complete the programme.
He told RTE Morning Ireland that the process of identifying those who qualify for the top-up is “complex”.
“First of all what we’ve had to do is work with NIAX (National Immunisation Advisory Committee), who set out the early recommendations and classification, and our clinical teams have been engaged with them to get greater clarity,” Mr Reid said.
Appointments
“Our intention is to commence the process later next week, probably by Wednesday, to start making appointments.
“Then probably by Friday of next week people will start to get appointments coming through.
“It is a more complex piece of identification.” He said it will include people who are highly immunocompromised, organ recipients, renal patients, certain cancer patients, and people on particular medications.
People will be contacted by the HSE and clinical teams about their appointments, Mr Reid said.
“If people are not contacted, it’s most likely an indication that they’re not in that higher risk category.
“So those who are in the high risk categories will be determined by our clinical teams,” he added.
Yesterday, a further 1,163 cases of COVID-19 were notified by the Health Department.
297 Covid-positive patients are now in hospitals, of which 61 are in intensive care.