Imperative no falling behind in rollout of vaccine to nursing home residents and staff
Friday January 15, 202115th January 2021: Nursing Homes Ireland this afternoon states no slippage can be tolerated in the rollout of vaccines to nursing home residents. It follows emerging report that an accelerated programme planned for this weekend may have to be adjusted because of temporary reduction in the supplies of Pfizer’s Covid19 vaccine. Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO states: “Nursing home residents have not been the initial priority for rollout of the vaccine and the move last weekend to accelerate rollout to these most vulnerable people was absolutely imperative. The HSE yesterday revealed just 10% of the 77,000 vaccines administered were within nursing homes, contradicting the initial pledge that residents and staff would be the number one priority. Every vaccination in a nursing home is absolutely vital because the people there are so susceptible to this virus. We are racing against the vicious spread of the virus in communities across the country in order to protect nursing home residents and staff. Every day is critical. Any deviation in the rollout must entail speeding it up as opposed to it falling behind. We are seeking assurance from the HSE that there will be no impact on the people in our nursing homes that are immediately awaiting the vaccination.”
Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO is available for further interview. Media interviews will be facilitated by Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications & Research Executive, who can be contacted at 087 9082970.