‘Questions to be answered regarding Moorepark Vaccination Centre’

Having written to the Minister for Health and having made requests to liaise with the HSE to push for a mass vaccination centre in North Cork, TD Seán Sherlock is maintaining pressure for the Moorepark Vaccination Centre.

The Cork East Labour TD has said he continues to make representations for the inclusion of Moorepark in the Government’s vaccination centre list to ensure that there is a nearby centre for vaccinations across the areas of Fermoy, Mitchelstown and all areas in between.

As of Friday, February 19, there have been 340,704 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine administered in Ireland.

214,384 of those people have received their first dose, while 126,320 have received their second dose.

“I still have a number of questions to be answered by the Department and the HSE. But it makes sense for Moorepark to be included, given its capacity to store vaccines on-site also. We have to have as many vaccine hubs as possible,” Deputy Sherlock said.

A spokesperson for Teagasc informed The Avondhu in a previous article that, plans and preparations for the mass vaccination centre were not yet under way. However, the Moorepark facility does have the necessary facilities to store the vaccine, if required.

Deputy Sherlock received a reply this week from the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer in relation to his calls for the use of the Moorepark facility.

“There are 37 testing centres across the country, with at least one testing centre in each county. In addition, if the demand requires, pop up testing centres are established.

“There will also be 37 HSE vaccination centres opened across the country. Many people will be offered their vaccination in these centres and registration will be online. The aim is that the vaccination centres will be available by the 1st of March,” the response stated.