HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry

This morning.

The HSE has suspended distribution of the flu vaccine to GPs and pharmacies after it emerged that claims for 600,000 doses are missing.

In a letter sent to doctors and pharmacists on Monday, the HSE said that approximately 1.3 million vaccines have been distributed to date, but only 700,000 of those have been recorded as administered vaccines on the claims system used by healthcare professionals to reimburse costs.

As a result, it is not clear whether or not the remaining 600,000 vaccines have been administered.

However.

Via RTÉ News:

The Health Service Executive has rejected newspaper reports that hundreds of thousands of doses of the flu vaccine have gone missing.

The executive’s Chief Clinical Officer said 50,000 doses were held back to ensure they are delivered to those areas most in need.

Dr Colm Henry said there have been unprecedented levels of demand for the vaccine this year and 1.3 million doses have been distributed already – an increase of 20% from the same period last year and the most the HSE has ever distributed.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said the HSE normally holds back a certain amount of the vaccine to ascertain where the gaps and priority areas around the country are and where the vaccine needs to be delivered to.

HSE won’t release any new flu vaccine jabs as 600,000 ‘go missing’ (Independent.ie)

HSE rejects claims over missing flu vaccine (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Behold: the 1943 Sherman M4A1 ‘Grizzly’ tank, very similar to the M4A2 featured in the film ‘Fury’ and a rare survivor of its time (most were destroyed or scrapped after World War 2,).

It has a cast, single-piece upper hull welded to an armour-plated lower hull, and a massive 16-litre (975i) Wright Whirlwind nine-cylinder radial engine, it’s fully operational, demilitarised and ready for the carpark of your local SuperValu.

Yours for €275,000+

hiconsumption

The statue in Palencia, Spain – once the smiling face of a woman – has been replaced with a crude countenance some have likened to Donal Trump

For some reason people in Spain
Are convinced that there’s no need to train
If you’re planning to start
To restore works of art
So this happens again and again

John Moynes

Pic: Twitter

This afternoon.

The Dáil at the Convention Centre, Dublin.

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald arrives ahead of a no-confidence motion against Tanaiste Leo Varadkar for leaking confidential GP contract documents.

Watch live here.

Earlier: All Behind Him

RollingNews

Earlier: Leo’s High Standards 

The votes are in.

No ballot ‘harvesting’ detected (so far).

Last week, with a tangy and ripe €25 Golden Discs voucher on offer, I asked you for your favourite song whose lyrics mention a fruit.

You answered in your citric-soaked dozens; the entries providing an orchard-like playlist of unforgettable fruity numbers.

But there could be only one winner.

Third Place:

Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone) by John Prine

Charger Salmons writes:

‘Deep in the Charger man cave with a log fire and a nice peaty single malt on the go I invariably play at least one John Prine song most evenings. An early victim of Covid-19 his passing didn’t get the attention it deserved – just a brilliant songwriter who walked the walk and lived the life. I figured I’d find fruit mentioned somewhere in his output but bizarrely the one song title that did – Bruised Orange – didn’t have it in the lyrics. But then I remembered this track which mentions apples once which I reckon is enough to get him into the competition. This version even has a young Steven Bannon on mandolin…’

Runner-up:

Woozy With Cider by James Yorkston

Quoting the song’s lyrics, Otis Blue writes:

“I wonder of our future and where it will lead to. I wonder if you’ll be laying there 10 years 20 years 30 years down the line. I’ll still be staring out at the street confused about love and life. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone ever bought those songs of mine. If anyone heard those words that I never got quite right. I think I can be honest in presuming the world is not exactly going to be leaping out its bed to make me rich using my songs in adverts selling oranges or lemons…”

Winner:

Tangerine by Buffalo Tom

Ben Madigan writes:

It’s a popular fruit: “She’s a tangerine, made in California”

Nick says: Tangy Thanks all.

Last week; Win Nick’s Voucher


Declan O’Rourke – Andy Sells Coke

The songwriter’s songwriter.

That’s Declan O’Rourke (top), who has been eulogised by the great Paul Weller, who produced and plays bass and piano on Declan’s new album, Arrivals, due in February on the eastwest label.

The powerful message of the new single Andy Sells Coke rings loud and clear in this live studio session.

Declan says:

“It’s a forty something’s rude re-awakening to nightlife in the city…”

Nick says: White lines (don’t do it).

Declan O’Rourke

Pic: Lawrence Watson

Joe Biden. then American Vice President, Joe Biden with Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Government Buildings in Dublin, June 21, 2016

This afternoon.

In an interview on Midwest Radio….

….the former Taoiseach said he was filled with excitement, joy and gratitude at Mr Biden’s victory. He expects him to have a “massive agenda of restoring some sort of respect for the United States around the world”.

Mr Kenny remarked on the fact that there had been an enormous vote in the US election and suggested this “probably related to the fact that Trump had been very provocative on a number of issues”, which really brought out the “polarised peoples of America to vote”

Good times:

Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny welcomes Joe Biden victory (RTÉ)

Earlier: Two Realites Diverged

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

THis afternoon.

Broadsheet.ie