‘New hospital numbers due to low vaccine rate’
Just 18% of those who are aged between f ive and 11 are fully vaccinated, according to HSE f igures
FEWER than one-in-five children aged between five and 11 years old are fully vaccinated, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Latest HSE figures show 89,000 (18%) of this cohort are fully vaccinated out of 482,000.
And an expert has warned that this low uptake in vaccination may be contributing to new Covid-19 hospitalisations.
Professor of immunovirology at University College Cork Liam Fanning, told the MoS, ‘It’s likely [Covid] numbers are being maintained by the low uptake in vaccination among the five to 11s.
‘It would certainly have to contribute to the numbers,’ he added.
Despite Covid cases being on the rise again, Prof. Fanning does not advocate a return to mandatory mask wearing, saying, ‘It would be very difficult to reinstate it now it has been dropped. It’s clear to see more and more people are comfortable not wearing them’.
He also said the increase in cases is not down to waning immunity, but more likely an indication of increased mobility among the population following the easing of restrictions.
Prof. Fanning also said there is ‘no discussion around a fourth [vaccine] shot, adding that evidence is emerging that this would only provide ‘minimal extra protection’.
He also said spikes of infection are likely as we move to ‘living with Covid-19’. He said: ‘While uptake among the five-11 age cohort remains quite poor, it’s likely we’ll see another rush of infections again come September when children return to school.’
Mask-wearing mandates were lifted on February 28, but there has been a steady increase in hospitalisations since February 26, when figures were at 583.
On March 6, Covid hospital cases rose to 749 and by yesterday had climbed to 895, a figure that hasn’t been reached since mid-January.
This week, HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry, said the increase in Covid cases is having a ‘very disruptive effect’ on the flow of patients through hospitals.
Dr Henry also revealed around half of the hospitalisations tested positive for Covid-19 while attending hospital for other conditions, and not the virus.
In early February, 126,000 (26.2%) children between five and 11 had registered for a Covid-19 vaccine, with around 44,000 receiving their second dose (9.2%) out of a population size of 482,000. According to the HSE, the number of children who have received their second dose is 89,000 (18%).
A HSE spokeswoman said: ‘The HSE would encourage all those who have yet to be fully vaccinated and are eligible, to avail of the vaccine as soon as possible.
‘A number of initiatives have been implemented to encourage uptake in this group and others eg flexible access channels, targeted region-specific advertisement and national media campaign.’
Meanwhile, Covid-19 ICU numbers continue to decrease, with 41 critical-care Covid patients in hospitals yesterday.
When asked if the HSE believes the low vaccine uptake in this age cohort is contributing to increased transmission and hospitalisations, the spokeswoman said the data indicates that the 5-14 age range has the lowest number of hospital admissions, with around 729 hospitalisations to date.
The age cohort with the highest number of hospitalisations is the 74-84 age group, with 5,708 hospitalisations to date.
‘A rush of infections again come September’