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LAST UPDATE | 18 Nov 2021
THE HSE HAS said that some vaccination centres are recording “no show” rates of between 25-50% for Covid-19 vaccine boosters.
Speaking at a briefing this afternoon, CEO Paul Reid said that it is “really important” that people avail of a booster jab when one is offered, suggesting that a “sense of security” may be contributing to people not doing so.
The government’s Covid-19 statistics website yesterday began publishing stats on the level of booster jabs being delivered.
As of yesterday, 481,519 booster jabs have been administered. This is made up of 61,400 doses to people who are immunocompromised and 420,119 doses to other categories.
The total number of people now approved for boosters is estimated to be 2.2 million people.
Speaking today, Reid said that anyone who is offered a booster should avail of one.
“There is an early phenomenon which I’d like to flag and say what we need to do. Certainly we are seeing people not coming forward for a high number of appointments made,” he said
It’s really important if you’re offered a booster appointment that you take it up, we have seen some no show rates and some centres varying from 25 to 50%. So it’s a really important call to everybody, we are going to be dealing with significant elements of population and we need those appointments utilised.
“Maybe just due to a sense of security among people feeling they have had two vaccines and don’t need a booster, but we do know it’s really important for people to come forward. The more people receive these booster shots when there are due for you, the smaller the number of people we expect to see in hospitals.”
Booster cohorts
The booster programme is already underway in Ireland for people who are immunocompromised, healthcare workers and those over 60.
This week, the National Immunisation Advisory Council (NIAC) approved boosters people aged 50-59, people aged 16-59 years with an underlying condition and all residents in long-term healthcare facilities, irrespective of age.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin this week provided an estimate about when the current cohorts approved for boosters would be completed.
Scale of testing
Addressing the issue of people experiencing difficulties booking PCR tests, Reid said Ireland’s testing system is currently operating at one of the highest capacity levels in the European Union.
The health service boss said 198,000 lab tests had been carried out in the last seven days.
“This is a phenomenol rate we are at, and it is because the virus is so rampant in our communities,” Reid said.
Over the last week the testing system consistently carried out more than 20,000 tests per day, reaching as high as 25,000 tests were carried out on Tuesday. The system was initially designed to carry out 15,000 tests per day.
The HSE has also entered into an agreement with private testing provider RocDoc to operate a testing centre at Dublin airport.
The facility opened on Monday and is now carrying out over 1,000 appointments per day. There are plans for similar facilities to be established at Cork and Shannon airports over the next two weeks.
Reid said the HSE is outsourcing to private companies due to demand that they “have never seen anything like before”.
People waiting for test appointments were told to restrict their movements.
‘Inconceivable strain’
Reid said the health service is facing the “highest level of impact and risk we’ve had to manage since Covid landed here”.
He warned that services will face “unyielding and unrelenting strain over the next while”.
The briefing was also told that unvaccinated people continue to make up a disproportionate share of intensive care patients.
Of the 476 patients in ICU between 27 June and 13 November, 61% were either unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, Reid said.
“I state it because our clinical teams are asking us to state it very clearly,” he said.
Reid added that the use of private beds will be almost trebled in the coming weeks, from 1,100 beds per week to 3,000.
No problem with Monday its Tuesday I’m fearing!
Yeah, its true, we really should just stop and think about where we’re at.We take for granted our mental state of health . Unfortunately, we are always planning ahead for and not chillin out and enjoying the moment. Financial stress does this to us all.Its not easy to be in the here and now but we must try, as we owe it to ourselves.So cmon, its a new day, altogether now, Breathe in, Breathe out, breathe in, Breathe out, Ah im exhausted already, im goin back asleep!
I hope I win the lotto, I hope I win the lotto, I hope I win the lotto….
Perhaps at Easter there is a Christian answer to stress rather than having to go to Eastern philosophies
What would that be then?
What’s wrong with trying things from other cultures and faiths? It broadens the mind, no-one has all the answers. Seems quite un-Christian to close your mind to the thoughts and philosophies of others simply because the aren’t attached directly to your faith, Jesus wouldn’t have gained too many followers if he’d taken that approach, he loved everyone.
Some might say the pressures placed on younger people to live that perfect Christian life is part of the problem causing pressures and stress on people?
I am Christian and believe in living s good life and loving others etc etc but an wholly against the ‘church’ preaching, aged men who never have had a relationship, instructing us on how to manage ours etc, crazy stuff!
Well Budda preached the truth is within you path to enlightment Jesus preached that he was the truth and could forgive sin
Keep praying.
Another top tip, not mentioned in the article, is to try and avoid thejournal.ie entirely.
By sheer coincidence here’s my blog on my experience of mindfulness featuring a reference to 1916 for the week that’s in it:
I’m pissed
Me too.
And you don’t think that Fine Gael might have some policies you agree with and so might People before Profit. They are not mutually exclusive. You as an individual can decide what you agree with, so can everyone else.
have your say