Tag Archives: Vaccines

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

This afternoon.

The Covid-19 ‘vaccine portal’ for 45 to 49 year olds will open from tomorrow – despite the ‘HSE ransomware attack’.

Only mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna will be available to this age group at first.

Via RTÉ News:

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said Donnelly said the vaccine programme’s computer system, which is a new system, has not been compromised in the cyber attack on the HSE and the programme is moving very quickly.

He said there has been no indication that it has been compromised at all.

He said two in five adults have now received a first dose and last week was a record week, with about 50,000 vaccinations administered in one day last week.

Meanwhile…

Earlier, the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer said the executive has received advice from National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) that people aged 40 to 49 could receive Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Vaccine portal for 45 to 49 year olds set to open tomorrow (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Last night.

Washington DC.

In remarks from the White House, President Joe Biden announced that the US will share millions more doses of coronavirus vaccines with other countries around the world.

He added:

 “if the unvaccinated get vaccinated, they’ll protect themselves and other unvaccinated people around them…

“…Ultimately, those who are not vaccinated will end up paying the price. The vaccinated will continue to be protected against severe illnesses, but others may not be if you’re not vaccinated.”

US to share 20m more COVID vaccine doses with world, total now 80m: Biden (CNBC)

Getty

This afternoon.

Government Buildings.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar launched an updated ‘Work Safely Protocol’ to ‘assist employers in reopening safely’.

He confirmed that vaccination will remain voluntary.

Via RTÉ News:

He said the protocol will guide employers on how to manage unvaccinated workers.

Today’s document incorporates the latest public health advice, and contains guidelines on antigen testing, vaccinations and ventilation to assist employers in reopening the economy while keeping workers and customers safe.

Meanwhile..

Mr Varadkar said they now had a “Government-endorsed” report on antigen testing, and acknowledged that many employers were already using it.

“I am encouraging more to do so,” he added.

Vaccinations to remain voluntary as workplaces reopen – Tánaiste (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

Um.

Anyone?

RollingNews

Ireland’s Olympic HQ,  Howth, county Dublin

This afternoon.

The athletes and support teams, which number in the low hundreds, will receive the Pfizer jab thanks to an agreement between the pharmaceutical company and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The development has been welcomed by the Irish Olympic and Paralympic federations who believe the measure will relieve “very high levels of anxiety that a lack of vaccination was causing among the team”.

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

Oh.

RollingNews

This evening.

Earlier…

The Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

This afternoon.

In a joint statement, Pfizer and BioNTech said they had submitted a request with the Amsterdam-based EMA to expand the use of their jab to include “adolescents 12 to 15 years of age”.

Ugur Sahin, co-founder and CEO of Germany’s BioNTech, yesterday said the jab could be available for those age groups from June if EU approval is granted.

Today’s move comes after Phase 3 trial data showed that the vaccine provided “robust antibody responses” and was 100% effective in warding off the disease among those aged 12 to 15.

“The vaccine also was generally well tolerated,” the statement added.

After your teen, etc.

Pfizer asks EMA to authorise jab for 12 to 15-year-olds (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

This morning/afternoon.

As correctly speculated in today’s newspapers, the Government has accepted new recommendations which would see the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines made available to people aged 50 and older, as well as other changes. Up to now the AstraZeneca vaccine was essentially limited to people over 60.

Via RTÉ:

The recommendations also mean that where a two dose regime is a difficulty, the J&J vaccine can be used in certain communities, the homeless and those with addiction issues.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee has also recommended that an mRNA vaccine be offered to pregnant women between 14-36 weeks gestation, after a discussion with their obstetric specialist.

It has also recommended that the single-dose vaccine can be given to people under 50, if there is no option of another vaccine.

After, you, etc.

Govt accepts NIAC recommendations on J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines (RTÉ)

RollingNews

This afternoon.

*rolls up sleeve, taps vein*

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Merrion Street, Dublin 2.

Further to the decision to limit the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged over 60 years and the delay in the roll out of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine across Europe….

…Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said he is hopeful the Covid-19 vaccine schedule can remain on track.

Via RTÉ

Speaking ahead of a meeting with the National Vaccination taskforce, Mr Ryan said he is confident the system is flexible and those who have had vaccinations cancelled this week will be accommodated “very quickly”.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister Ryan will talk to the taskforce and the Health Service Executive this morning ahead of a Cabinet meeting as the Government sets about adjusting the vaccination plan.

Mr Ryan said the advice about Johnson and Johnson is only temporary and the AstraZeneca vaccine has been cleared for people aged over 60.

Ryan ‘hopeful’ vaccine schedule can stay on track (RTÉ)

Sam Boal/RollingNews

This morning.

Meanwhile…

Anyone?

RollingNews