Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

MEP Mick Wallace (file photo) Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Mick Wallace says vaccine rollout delay is 'huge concern' and could cost lives

The independent MEP said “the most glaring problem in the last three or four weeks has been the delay in the rollout”.

MEP MICK WALLACE has said delays to the Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan in Ireland and other countries is a “huge concern” and could cost lives.

Supply issues and the Irish government’s decision that over-70s should not receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, and instead be given the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, looks set to delay the initial deadline to vaccinate this age group here.

Concerns have also been raised in recent weeks about the number of vaccines AstraZeneca can produce for Europe.

When asked by TheJournal.ie today about these issues, Wallace said there “seem to be serious challenges around AstraZeneca, and I think it does represent a big problem given that they were promising to produce a huge quantity (of the vaccine) and countries right across Europe were banking on them”.

The independent MEP said “the most glaring problem in the last three or four weeks has been the delay in the rollout”.

“The delay in the rollout is a huge, huge concern for so many people across Europe. I was only talking to a woman this morning who is over 75 and was expecting to get the vaccine in late March and now she has been told that she’ll get it in late May.”

Wallace noted that more than 700,000 people with Covid-19 have died across Europe in the last year. He said if the vaccine rollout is delayed by two or three months, “an extra 100,000″ people may die.

“The least that people should be entitled at this stage is to know what’s happening” and when they will be vaccinated, he said.

The MEP for Ireland South was speaking at an online press conference with reporters this afternoon.

As of 5 February, 230,766 people in Ireland had received a Covid-19 vaccine – 151,212 first doses and 79,554 second doses.

‘Paying the price’ 

Wallace also hit out at the rolling lockdowns happening in countries such as Ireland, saying people are now “paying the price” for certain government decisions.

He said “selective” lockdowns resulted in the closure of smaller businesses while allowing some “non-essential” larger industries to remain open.

“We’ve kept big industry open. We’ve kept processing plants open, we’ve kept mines open. We have building sites closed now but they were open most of the time as well and there are 400 to 700 people on some of them,” he said.

“We’ve had a selective lockdown and we paid the price for it. We were caught between two stools of dealing with public health and trying to keep the big economy going, and we’re paying a huge price for it.”

Several vaccines approved or being developed

Also speaking at the press conference, Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune said she is “confident” in AstraZeneca’s efficacy, noting that the European Medicine Agency has approved it for use in over-18s.

A number of European nations have not authorised that particular vaccine for use in over-65s over concerns about its efficacy in that age group.

In Ireland, it is expected that people aged 70 and over will have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by mid-April and second dose in May.

The original plan had been for all people in this age cohort to receive their first dose by the end of March.

The HSE yesterday said, despite some delays, no-one would be “left behind” by the vaccination programme.

Clune noted that Ireland has had to “change the approach in terms of using more of the Pfizer (vaccine) and that’s not as easy – you just have to go with it”.

The mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna have to be kept at much lower temperatures, making them more difficult to store and transport.

“I think in all these things you have to have confidence and go with what the experts do advise, and those involved in public healthcare,” Clune said. 

Clune, also an MEP for Ireland South, said the fact that three vaccines have been approved for use in the European Union, and others are being developed, is very good progress to have made within a year.

“Normally it can take up to 10 years for a vaccine to be brought to market or to be approved for use. So I think we’ve come a very long way and I have no doubt that in the coming months we’ll see more and more vaccines, the rollout of vaccines will improve,” she said.

Clune added that she does have some concerns about the efficacy of vaccines on new variants of the virus, such as the South African strain.

She noted that the European Commission has asked member states “to invest more and more in genome sequence tracing” in a bid to identify new strains quickly.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
13 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nimchimpsky
    Favourite nimchimpsky
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:13 PM

    How many weed plants can I grow in there?

    140
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute the asian nightmare
    Favourite the asian nightmare
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:18 PM

    74

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nimchimpsky
    Favourite nimchimpsky
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:27 PM

    What if I take out the bunk beds?

    64
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute the asian nightmare
    Favourite the asian nightmare
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:29 PM

    86

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nimchimpsky
    Favourite nimchimpsky
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:37 PM

    How much would I get for 91 bunk beds?

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nimchimpsky
    Favourite nimchimpsky
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:46 PM

    And what are you charging in auctioneer fees?

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Not_Rod_Ten©
    Favourite Not_Rod_Ten©
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:20 PM

    The tv licence man would still get you.

    94
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Girl
    Favourite The Girl
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:38 PM

    Or Irish Water

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 4:03 PM

    In ballymena?

    60
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Ryan
    Favourite Paddy Ryan
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 5:10 PM

    It would be perfect for Willie Frazer to hide out from the “Fenian looking people” !!!!

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Foley
    Favourite Karl Foley
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:49 PM

    No need for it. Just take your free Iodine tablet. Sorted.

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Malone
    Favourite Mark Malone
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:23 PM

    The wife would never go for it……..pity.

    “Just popping out for milk love, I’ll just lock you in to be safe.”

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neil Cullen
    Favourite Neil Cullen
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 4:07 PM

    The state of that house in Donnybrook – a poky little terraced 3-bed with no boundary wall, 1 parking spot, no front garden, and a tiny back garden. Fur coat & no knickers. Imagine paying €750,000 for that, lol.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom
    Favourite Tom
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 4:44 PM

    Dublin prices are bunkers.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anton Friendo
    Favourite Anton Friendo
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:20 PM

    Its nucular

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ted Murray
    Favourite Ted Murray
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:50 PM

    They obviously didn’t give a toss about Northern Ireland, only giving thirty days. I bet those folks in London would have still been laughing their heads off in their proper nuclear bunker, twenty years after the NI contingent had all died of radiation sickness.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Maguire
    Favourite David Maguire
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:20 PM

    Would make a nice office space for business start ups

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dot Com
    Favourite Dot Com
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:22 PM

    Not much news on the political front today is Hugh off.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran OKeeffe
    Favourite Kieran OKeeffe
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:51 PM

    Probably coaching Enda..

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:51 PM

    Lock the entire Irish Political System in it and fcuk the key away.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcgoo
    Favourite mcgoo
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 4:33 PM

    The shinners next hq.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute alpha_chaarlie
    Favourite alpha_chaarlie
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 6:00 PM

    I’d pay £575,000 to not have to live in Donnybrook

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colette Kearns
    Favourite Colette Kearns
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:13 PM

    Jeasus its horrible!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute the asian nightmare
    Favourite the asian nightmare
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 3:17 PM

    True but the bunker isn’t exactly easy on the eye either.

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joey Gee
    Favourite Joey Gee
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 5:38 PM

    You could but, would you? Learning Ballymena is impossible, seriously!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Juan Carr
    Favourite Juan Carr
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 6:01 PM

    Sin Fein should appropriate it through the clean Slab.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rashers Tierney
    Favourite Rashers Tierney
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 6:46 PM

    Juan Carr, by name and nature.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    Feb 11th 2016, 7:41 PM

    …..er! has it got the famous iodine tablets?

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds