Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 24 Dec 2021
IRELAND HAS THE third highest uptake of booster vaccines in the EU, according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
Since Monday, over 386,000 people have received a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in a combination of walk-in vaccination centres, appointments based systems in vaccination centres and from their local GP and pharmacies.
A total of 1.84 million additional Covid-19 vaccines have been administered since this programme began.
Yesterday, 83,872 vaccines were administered. So far this week, over 8,200 people have also presented for their first vaccine dose or second vaccine dose.
Donnelly thanked pharmacists and GPs who had responded to his call for a “step change” in the national vaccine rollout.
He said the HSE had progressed a number of significant changes in recent weeks, at his request, in order to accelerate our booster rollout.
“I don’t underestimate the logistical challenges that these demands have placed on the HSE, but it has responded brilliantly,” he said.
His comments comes as it was announced that PCR testing centres will continue to operate through Christmas Day and St Stephens’ Day, though there will be reduced capacity, according to Damien McCallion, the HSE lead for the HSE’s Vaccination Programme.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, McCallion said:
“We are under pressure in the last 48 hours and we will continue to operate through Christmas Day and St Stephens’ Day all be a slightly reduced service.
“What I would say is we certainly appreciate it’s difficult for people, particularly coming into Christmas, the uncertainty in terms of maybe waiting for a test on certain days, in certain areas of the country.
“The public health advice unfortunately still remains the same – if you’re symptomatic in terms of seeking out a PCR test, you must wait on until you are symptom-free for 48 hours before ceasing to restrict your movements.
“So I know it’s really difficult advice coming into the days ahead, we all know people at the moment who have tested positive in recent days,” he said, adding that this is obviously causing difficulties for family Christmases.
He said the HSE is seeking to continue to grow the PCR capacity as we move into the Christmas and New Year period.
If people are finding it difficult to get an appointment for a PCR test, McCallion said people should continue monitor the appointment website throughout the day as more slots will come on stream.
“There will be some slots available through the day,” he said.
But due to the level of demand over the last 48 hours it has proved challenging for people to find slots available, he acknowledged.
While there will be a slightly reduced testing capacity tomorrow and St Stephens’ Day, appointment slots will become available over the day as the HSE monitors the attendance rates and referral rates.
The health minister today thanked everyone working in the health and social care services.
“That includes everyone working in our hospitals and in the community, as well as those working in GP and dental practices, pharmacies, nursing homes, our ambulance service, the Department of Health and other public bodies and teams,” he said.
Speaking directly to those working across our health and social care service, Donnelly said:
“Thank you. You have been at the forefront of this pandemic for almost two years. 2021 continued to be a challenging year and I am very aware of the sacrifices many of you made so that you could provide the best care to patients and your communities.
“The sacrifices you made will inevitably have impacted on your family and personal lives. I hope you get some well-deserved down-time this Christmas and would like to wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Christmas.”
Donnelly also thanked the public for its incredible support of the vaccine programme.
“For the last few weeks, myself and my colleagues in Government along with our clinical experts in all disciplines have urged people in Ireland to attend for a booster, or indeed primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine and the high level of uptake is a testament to the ongoing efforts we are all making to layer up on all of the measures available to us including mask wearing, good ventilation, antigen testing and adherence to other public health measures,” he said.
Last night it was announced that the over 30s will be able to have booster jab from next Wednesday, with the vaccine booking system for children aged 5-11 also set to open next week.
The moves are part of a further acceleration of the country’s vaccination programme, which yesterday saw over 106,000 booster jabs delivered.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said yesterday evening that from 29 December, people aged 30 to 39 will be able to avail of a vaccine in a vaccination centre or pharmacy.
People in this age group can currently avail of vaccines if they are available in a GP surgery.
People aged 16 to 29 who received the Janssen vaccine as their first dose will also be able to avail of a booster from 29 December.
The boosters for this group will first be administered in pharmacies before specific clinics will be set up in vaccination centres.
The wider rollout of boosters to everyone in the 16-29 age group will begin from 10 January.
The booster vaccination programme will take a short break for two days for Christmas Day and St Stephens’ Day, but will return on Monday, he said.
McCallion has said the new booking system, whereby people can book a time slot at a vaccination centre, “seems to have been very successful so far”.
People can book a slot at ten vaccination centres with more to be added to the system next week, he said, stating that people can book through the HSE.ie website.
Walk-ins are also welcome, he added.
The vaccination of children in a high risk category has already begun. On 28 December, the booking portal will open for the vast majority of children.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Fair play and thanks to those workers.
@Larry Whack: Fair play to them, but what is the point in all this testing? The purpose of testing is to identify and drive out onward spread. That is fine in a situation where numbers are manageable and there is no vaccine.
We know that the virus is spreading uncontrollably in society and it is going to keep going because of the omicron variant which thankfully seems to be much milder.
The only requirement for testing should be those: 1) working or living with someone vulnerable; 2) requiring international travel; and 3) requiring admission to hospital.
Testing Damo because he was in Coppers and lobbed the gob on a few moths is a huge waste of resources and money. We don’t need to know whether there are 7k cases today or tomorrow. We know it’s out there and will keep going until it burns itself out.
@LaoisWeather: So ‘Damo’ doesn’t interact, live with, meet or visit anybody in categories 1,2 or 3 then?
You need to put a bit more thought into that position I’d say.
@LaoisWeather: Agreed, the indiscriminate use of PCR tests is an ongoing waste of money and time. Also, does anyone know how many amplification cycles they are running these tests at. Is it still 40 to 45 in Ireland?
@LaoisWeather: the point in testing is so people can be responsible in society. If you knowingly have covid and spread it within the community how many people do you think could end up quite sick from it?
@Alan Kennedy: the HSE have published their PCR amplification policy.and where a retest is needed and when a resampling is needed. Link been published here a few times, have not got it to hand but s Google search may help there
@Pat ALTHEA: it also help those vulnerable people, who many says must take responsibility themselves, to know and understand the risk they take. The fewer the cases the lower the risk. Plus we must never lose sight of the fact that about 7 people a day are dying coupled with the strain on the health services. This is why testing and reporting is important, not to mention the fact that positive cases should be isolating at home or in City West.
@Lee King Buckett: Damo can take an antigen test if he’s visiting triple-jabbed granny over the Christmas following his well deserved night out on the tiles. Queuing for a PCR test in the general is a waste of time money and resources.
@LaoisWeather: It’s Mots, not moths.
@LaoisWeather: You only book a PCR test if you have symptoms in which case an antigen test is not sufficient.
This has been repeated a million times and people still don’t get it.
@LaoisWeather: what about if you work with someone who is living with someone vulnerable? What if most of the doctors and nurses get sick at the same time?.
@LaoisWeather: Exactly. Latest estimates are there are approx 30 infections for every case. Test and trace was never a viable strategy.
@LaoisWeather: I just named your ma as a very close contact…
@Larry Whack: yes we should spare a thought for the people swabbing for the next two days. No one turning up for testing is going to have much Christmas spirit. Be kind!!!
@LaoisWeather: how do you know all the cases reported today don’t fall into the categories you mentioned?? I think you should stick to reporting the weather forecast and leave the medical matters to the experts.
@LaoisWeather: I was never in Coppers!!
I hope those workers get some serious overtime pay.
@Sohoma Roanie: they won’t.
@JG: they will
@JG: treble time I’m told. I don’t begrudge them it one bit but there is an entire industry built around Covid-19 and alot of multi nationals making alot of money out of it. While the person in the street gets jabbed and stays safe there doesn’t seem to be any benefit actually as we’re back in a partial lockdown again. You can’t travel to easily and pcr tests are expensive and to be honest I think there is alot of price gouging now.
Amazing sacrifice. Thank you.
There is no need to have this operational on Christmas day. Give the people a break.
@Homes: So are you saying that Covid won’t be active on Xmas day
@In the paper: It doesn’t become active until 8pm.
@In the paper: “so are you saying that covid won’t be active on Xmas day”. Why? Why do people leave infantile comments like this incessantly on every journal article?
@Gerry from the Block: Gerry… you need to read the comments and go back around the block before you comment
@Gerry from the Block: you’re dead right. I think it’s quite obvious what the op was referring to but some can’t help themselves.
@Homes: so you want to deny the people who want to have a covid test from having one on Christmas day despite the sacrifice of those willing to give their time on Christmas day to facilitate this? Remember that people with symptoms are supposed to be isolating and am sure people isolating would like their negative results as soon as possible too.
I add that there is even less a need any day to have pubs or restaurants or any hospitality industry open at all or indeed non essential shops or travel or… the list goes on. We are fighting a pandemic still and trying to balance disease control with allowing socialising with as low a risk as possible. PCR testing would not be necessary if we were all locked down in our homes for two weeks like they did in China.
@Bad Bunny: I think the “covid not active Christmas day” was sarcasm – but I hope people isolating with symptoms today can get a PCR test tomorrow and a negative result in time to be freed from isolation for Stephen’s day thanks to the efforts of those involved
Fair play to them Thank you all Involved
Huge sacrifice from those involved in carrying out testing over the Christmas period . Well done and thanks
Are people that desperate,can they not even take a day off from covert.
@Heisen berg1: But if they did then they would be recognised and risk blowing their cover and the whole operation.
It would be more important to have the vaccine clinics open for those two days than the testing facilities.
Again, incorrect priorities by the HSE.
@Gavin Linden: Did you get a doctorate in virology and immunology in last year’s Christmas cracker? Evidently not, because you’re wrong there. Covid negative people, otherwise normal and healthy, taking the recommended precautions, are no worse off to wait a few days to get boosted. Its suspected cases that need to be diagnosed without delay so they can isolate and treat the symptoms.
@Eoin Roche: Nope…!
@Eoin Roche: I never realised that Doctorate levels of education were required to comment on a particular subject, but there you go…
While not attempting to disagree with someone as qualified as yourself I would point out the following. Given that only 1 in 4 people are testing positive which is quite a low percentage it’s a high waste of resources to accommodate Mary and Johnny swamin in for testing for God knows what reason. Given the obvious level of covid throughout the country and the anticipated surge over the coming weeks, testing should actually be scaled back and used for very specific targeted groups of people.
@Gavin Linden: and how many otherwise well people will go get a vaccine those two days then instead of after their break
It’s time All Front line Staff Got A Decent Pay Rise and HAPPY Christmas to Them All
We had positive antigen yesterday and had to drive over 60 miles to get a test. I know loads of people that just got tested in the past few days for extra peace of mind for the Christmas dinner and it will probably mean people that should really be using hse testing can’t get an appointment because if that, which will probably result in more spread because people will rely on antigen tests if they can’t get a pcr. 1 out of 3 antigens I done were negative.
Damien will want to come into the real world …none available in Galaxy city since early YESTERDAY…
@In the paper:
There is none in Connacht and Clare… is it a computer glitch?
@In the paper:
There is none in Connacht and Clare… is it a computer glitch?
Mind you we are testing 32,000 a day… last Feb we were inly doung 24,000…
System under huge pressure…
@In the paper: testing capacity is 250,000 a week and the variant is rampant
@Patrick O Connell: I am well aware of that….but the power’s to be tell us they have extra staff…and walk in centres …thats great until you need one
@In the paper: and there is extra staff hired but they can only test so much, 12 months ago they only had capacity for 100,000 despite opposition parties stating the opposite. Credit must be given to the HSE for achieving the 250,000
@In the paper: Sounds like COVID is also spreading its tentacles throughout the universe.
I hope that Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket Racoon and the rest stay safe.
Waiting two days for results so far
@John Sadlier: hope you get a negative today and in time to enjoy Christmas – merry Christmas
ridiculous. My wife is 36 weeks pregnant. Rotunda testing clinic is closed for Christmas and can’t get a test with hse.
Wouldn’t be to bad if I could get a booking confirmation.
Stop already, feeding the government machine like
Big Deal
are they walk in PCR centres ?
have your say