Tag Archives: Vaccine

Paul Reid, CEO, HSE at Dr Steevens’ Hospital for the weekly HSE operational update on the response to Covid-19 this afternoon

This afternoon.

At the HSE weekly briefing at Dr Steeven’s Hospital Dublin…

The HSE’s chief executive Paul Reid said 69,378 of them were received by frontline healthcare workers and 7,925 were received by people in long term care facilities.

He said said Ireland has received 152,100 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to date, along with 3,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

He confirmed that there are 1,792 people with Covid-19 being treated in hospital.

Paul Reid said that equated to over 100% more than at the first peak.

Watch: Weekly HSE briefing on Covid-19 (RTE)

RollingNews

This afternoon.

Good times.

Army medics are being prepped to join the ‘national jabs emergency team’

This afternoon.

An ally in the war against rogue microbes.

Turning bayonets into syringes.

Grenades into gurnies.

Killing machines into life savers.

You get the picture.

Via The Irish Mirror

The army is currently having its medics trained-in to become part of the healthcare team that delivers the jabs.

Negotiations are at an “advanced” stage for existing testing centres, such as Croke Park, Punchestown racecourse and the Aviva Stadium to become mass vaccination centres.

They are already on standby for any logistical emergencies that arise, but negotiations have taken place between the HSE and the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Mark Mellett, for the army to play a more active role….

Gulp.

Army being prepped to help vaccinate the public in mass rollout plan (Irish Mirror)

Meanwhile…

Ireland is in line to receive an additional 3.3 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine after the European Union extended its contract with the pharmaceutical companies.

This morning European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal was extended with a view to the European Union purchasing an extra 300 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Ms von der Leyen said delivery of the extra doses would start in the second quarter of this year…

Ireland to receive additional 3.3m Covid-19 vaccine doses under EU deal (RTÉ)

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This afternoon.

RTÉ Radio One’s News at One.

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Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

This afternoon.

After you.

No, I Insist.

Etc.

Daily Covid-19 case rate heading for 6,000, says HSE chief (RTÉ)

Earlier: Windows Of The Soul

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Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

This afternoon.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said the first Covid-19 vaccines will be adminstered on December 30.

Via RTÉ News:

Minister Donnelly said frontline healthcare workers and nursing homes will be vaccinated first and we can “then have a different conversation about opening up”.

Cabinet were told today that around 10,000 batches of the Pfizer/BioNTech will arrive after Christmas.

the roll out of these will begin next week to the most vulnerable and that they would build safely and swiftly from there.

After you.

Thank you, but gentlemen first.

No, I insist.

Etc.

First vaccinations to be administered here on 30 December (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Yesterday.

Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.

Nurse manager Tiffany Dover had been giving a press briefing from CHI Memorial Hospital about her team being among the first to take the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine when, about 17 minutes in, she collapsed and was grabbed by two doctors who were standing nearby.

Nurse faints at press conference after getting COVID-19 vaccine (Washinton Times)

Nurse faints during on live TV minutes after getting coronavirus vaccine (News.com.aus)

Meanwhile…

“We would not at all be surprised to see, coincidentally, vaccination happening and then having someone pass away a short time after they receive a vaccine, not because it has anything to do with the vaccination but just because that’s the place where people at the end of their lives reside.

“One of the things we want to make sure people understand is that they should not be unnecessarily alarmed if there are reports, once we start vaccinating, of someone or multiple people dying within a day or two of their vaccination who are residents of a long-term care facility. That would be something we would expect, as a normal occurrence, because people die frequently in nursing homes.”

Dr. Kelly Moore, associate director of the US Immunization Action Coalition, which is supporting frontline workers who will administer Covid-19 vaccinations.

Why vaccinate our most frail? Odd vote out shows the dilemma (CNN)

Above from left: Paul Reid, Chief Executive Officer, HSE; Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD; and Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health

This afternoon.

Department of Health, Dublin 2.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said that if the European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorises the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine within a few days of its 21 December meeting, it is possible the vaccine could be rolled out at a very low level by the end of year.

Mr Donnelly made the comments as the Government announced details of its Covid-19 vaccination plan.

Vaccine rollout possible by end of year, says Minister (RTÉ)

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