16th April 2021 - HSE Update: COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
The vaccination programme continues to be rolled out nationwide, and as of 13th April 1,094,964 vaccines have been administered in Ireland. While we have largely completed vaccinations for the first 2 allocation groups, we are still working to vaccinate these groups:
Group 3
Vaccination of people aged 70 and over continues by GPs, who are now largely vaccinating the group aged 70 to 74. Our National Ambulance Service is also providing vaccines to people aged 70 and over who cannot leave home to be vaccinated.
Group 4
Vaccinations, for people aged 16-69 with certain health conditions that put them at very high risk is underway. 76,331 vaccines were administered to people in Group 4 as of Tuesday, 13th April. Our hospital and healthcare teams continue to work to identify, contact and vaccinate people in Group 4. GPs will be vaccinating people in Group 4 who are not regularly in contact with hospitals.
Because of the recent changes in recommendations about the AstraZeneca vaccine, people aged under 60 in this group will now be offered an mRNA vaccine.
For now, people in this group don’t need to take any action. We understand that people are waiting to hear about the timing of their vaccine – your hospital, health service, or your GP will contact you when your vaccine is ready. This will continue over the next few weeks.
Group 5 and 6 – from yesterday, Thursday the 15th April, people aged between 65 and 69 can register for their COVID-19 vaccine online. we are asking people to register on different days depending on their age:
Registration dates and age groups
· Friday, 16 April – people aged 68 should register
· Saturday, 17 April – people aged 67 should register
· Sunday, 18 April – people aged 66 should register
· Monday, 19 April – people aged 65 should register
REGISTER HERE FOR YOUR VACCINE
People in this age group who are registering online will need their Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), their Eircode, an email address or a mobile phone number.
A friend or family member can help If someone is finding it difficult to go online and register or they can ring HSELive for support on 1850 24 1850 or 01 240 8787 from 8am to 8pm, 7 days.
Once registered, the person will receive their vaccine appointment for the AstraZeneca vaccine at a HSE Vaccination Centre. Appointment will start from Thursday, 22nd April.
You can read more about the AstraZeneca Vaccine and its safety and effectiveness at this link – https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/astrazeneca/overview.html
You can read more information about these updates on this page dedicated to the vaccine rollout – https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/rollout/rollout.html
SII COVID-19 Vaccination Information Page6th April 2021 - UPDATE: COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
The vaccination programme continues to be rolled out nationwide, and more than 819,676 vaccines have been administered as of the 29th March 2021. Vaccination of people aged over 70 continues, with all who are aged over 70 due to have received their first dose by mid-April.
Group 4 vaccinations, for people aged 16-69 with certain health conditions that put them at very high risk is underway. Our hospital and healthcare teams continue to work to identify, contact and vaccinate people in Group 4. For now, people in this groups don’t need to take any action.
Update on vaccinations for Group 4 (very high risk) and Group 7 (high risk)
Starting in April, GPs will be vaccinating some people in Group 4 who are not regularly in contact with hospitals, and subsequently people in Group 7, those at high risk from COVID-19. GPs will make contact with patients in due course, for now people don’t need to take any action.
Vaccinations for Group 5 (people aged 65-69 at high risk) and Group 6 (people aged 65-69)
Vaccines will be provided to all people aged 65-69 through HSE vaccination centres, starting later in April. People will be invited to register online soon, using public information and news media.
You can read more information about these updates on vaccinations for people in high risk groups on this page dedicated to the vaccine rollout here – Rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Ireland
Update to Vaccination Allocation Groups
The Government has this week approved an update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. This strategy sets out the groups to be prioritised for vaccination to best achieve the vaccination programme’s objectives of preventing serious illness, hospitalisation and death. It is based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and the Department of Health. For further information please visit – Provisional Vaccine Allocation Groups
SII COVID-19 Vaccination Information Page26th February 2021 – Coronavirus Vaccine Update from SII
You may have heard the media reports that people with disabilities have moved up the vaccine queue. The HSE announced on 26th February that certain chronic conditions were being prioritised. Spinal Injuries Ireland as part of the lobby groups including the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Neurological Association of Ireland and IPPOSI, the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations have been lobbying for change to the vaccine programme which previously had been based on age and not vulnerability due to disability.
People with disabilities including chronic neurological conditions who are aged 16-69 and are very high risk have been moved up the list to Group 4. Prior to this they had been in Group 7. At this stage there is no need for you to contact the HSE or GP. When the time gets closer to Group 4 being vaccinated there will be public advertisements and you will be contacted by your GP or healthcare team. Spinal Injuries Ireland will keep you updated on any other information that we receive.
HSE Covid 19 Vaccination Poster21 January 2021 – Coronavirus Vaccine Update from SII
We are very aware that there has been much anxiety among our Service Users about the risk of contracting the SARS-CoV2 virus and developing COVID-19 infection. There now appears to be additional worry among some Service Users about when they will be vaccinated. Not surprisingly, many people with SCI, in Ireland and around the world, feel they are vulnerable and should be prioritised for vaccination.
The National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, developed by the Department of Health and the HSE, has been informed by our country’s experience of COVID-19 during the 1st & 2nd waves last year. The rationale for each stage of the plan has been outlined in the strategy document. Older people in nursing homes, who experienced high rates of virus acquisition & death, have been prioritised along with health-care workers, who remain at very high risk of transmitting the virus to patients and, who must be facilitated in staying well, so as to be able to care for the sick.
Age has been a predictor of hospitalisation & death in people who have had COVID-19 infection and hence, the over 70’s group will be vaccinated next. It is reassuring that all our Service Users aged 70 years or older, will be included in the 3rd phase of the vaccination programme. After this, the vaccine will be administered to adults of all ages, with underlying medical conditions, starting with the older age groups. People with SCI will be included in this phase of the vaccination plan & current indications are that this will take place in late Spring/early Summer.
At the moment, there are many positives to be derived from our vaccination programme. Late last week, Ireland was ranked highest of all EU nations in terms of number of vaccines administered per head of population. Some alarm on Friday about the delivery of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine had been allayed by Saturday, with reports that a delay in delivery of the vaccine next week will be followed by increased delivery thereafter. The European Medicines Agency remains on track to approve the AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of the month, which will hasten the roll-out of vaccine administration nationally, as this vaccine does not need cold storage and only one dose is required (compared with 2 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, currently being administered).
So, while our Service Users, and people with a range of other clinical conditions, may feel that they should have greater vaccination priority, we must remain hopeful that we will all be vaccinated soon. Thankfully, there is a clear national strategy for vaccination, developed on what we learned from COVID-19 infections in 2020, and planned for the well-being of the entire population. We urge all our Service Users to accept vaccination when your times comes.
In the meantime please continue to follow all guidelines regarding social distancing and hygiene recommendations.
4th January 2021 – Coronavirus Vaccine Update from SII
We have had a few queries in relation to the COVID vaccine rollout. Those with an SCI will fall into the category of those “with underlying medical conditions” and will be offered the vaccine in accordance with the national policy.
So,
– those with SCI over 65 in long-term care will be vaccinated first along with all over 65s in long term care;
– then after Health Care Workers, those aged over 70 with SCI (not in long term care) will be vaccinated next along with all over 70s;
– then it will be those aged 65 – 69 with medical conditions,
– then 18 – 64 with underlying medical conditions
So by adhering to the national strategy everyone over 18 living with a SCI will be in the first 6 or 7 groups vaccinated.
30th December 2020 - Ireland placed on full Level 5 Restrictions of the Plan for Living with COVID-19
The government has today agreed that Level 5 as set out in the Plan for Living with COVID-19 will apply nationally.
This will come into effect at midnight tonight. The government has considered a number of factors in arriving at this decision, particularly NPHET concerns that the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 has continued to deteriorate very substantially.
It is recognised that this decision will have an impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, but the clear message is that we must all now stay at home, with the exception of essential purposes, in order to stop the spread of the virus.
