LAST UPDATE | 22 Apr 2022

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS have reported an additional 1,171 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland today.

In addition, 1,607 positive antigen tests were registered through the HSE portal yesterday.

It brings the combined total of Covid-19 cases reported today to 2,778.

As of 8am this morning, there are 599 patients in hospital who have a confirmed case of Covid-19, of whom 39 are receiving treatment in intensive care.

Yesterday, the Department of Health announced that people aged 65 and over and those over 12 with weaker immune systems can now receive a second Covid-19 booster vaccine.

It follows guidance from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

Appointments can be booked online to receive the booster at HSE vaccination centres, while participating GPs and Pharmacies will begin giving second boosters in the coming weeks.

If you are 65 or over, you should get your second booster at least four months after your first booster. 

People who have had Covid-19 in the past four months are advised to get their second booster dose at least four months after your positive test result or when your symptoms started.

NIAC have recommended people are given the mRNA vaccines for this second booster dose, and it is safe to receive if you previously had a different vaccine.

Vaccine uptake

New figures released today show that the majority of local electoral areas (LEAs) have Covid-19 vaccine uptake rates of more than 83% in the population over the age of 12.

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), a total of 90% of LEAs across Ireland have high vaccine rates.

In 90% of LEAs, the Covid-19 vaccination uptake rate of five to 11-year-olds is less than 23.4% of the population.

The figures were included in the CSO’s fourth publication, providing insights into Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Covid-19 booster vaccination rates, from fully vaccinated population, in LEAs around the country range from 52% to 75%.

The area with the highest Covid-19 booster vaccination rate is Bantry in West Cork.

Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart in Dublin are the areas with the lowest Covid-19 booster vaccination rates.

Over 95% of Local Electoral Areas (LEAs) have a COVID-19 booster vaccination rate of 60% or morehttps://t.co/uEwVHKhi26 #CSOIreland #Ireland #COVIDIreland #Health #Vaccines pic.twitter.com/nAGAgESk2H

— Central Statistics Office Ireland (@CSOIreland) April 22, 2022

Male employees aged 18 to 24 years have the lowest Covid-19 booster vaccine uptake rate at 45%.

Those working in human health and social work activities had the highest rates of Covid-19 booster vaccination rates at 82%, while those employed in accommodation and food service activities had the lowest rate at 56%.

Among employees, the lowest Covid-19 booster vaccine uptake rate across all age groups is in the EU 14 to 27 nationality grouping.

Steven Conroy, CSO statistician, said: “This Covid-19 vaccination bulletin is based on vaccinations and boosters administered up to 4 March 2022.

“This (CSO) bulletin includes vaccine uptake analysis of both five to 11-year-olds and the population aged 12 and over shown by local electoral area (LEA).

“Areas are split out into deciles to show their percentage of vaccination uptake. We also show two maps in this bulletin, the first is the Covid-19 vaccination rate decile by LEA, and the second is the booster rate by LEA, from fully vaccinated population.

“In 90% of LEAs, the Covid-19 vaccination uptake rate of five to 11-year-olds is less than 23.4%. In 90% of LEAs, the Covid-19 vaccination uptake rate among the over-12s is greater than 83.9% of the population.

Our analysis also shows that the Covid-19 booster vaccination rate ranges across all LEAs in the country from 52% to 75%.

Conroy said the areas with the highest Covid-19 booster vaccination rates are Bantry, West Cork, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Belmullet, Co Mayo, Rathfarnham-Templeogue, and Stillorgan in Dublin.

Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart, Tallaght South, North Inner City, Ongar and Ballymun-Finglas are among the lowest Covid-19 booster vaccination rates in the country, he added.