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LAST UPDATE | 15 Oct 2021
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said the Covid-19 situation “has changed” but that there’s “a variety of options” to look at ahead of a decision on the lifting of remaining restrictions.
A number of meetings are due to be held over the coming days ahead of a decision on whether to lift all remaining restrictions on 22 October.
Speaking to reporters in Cork today, the Taoiseach said that he agrees with the assessment of HSE CEO Paul Reid that “it’s not a case of pressing the panic button”.
It follows concerns earlier this week among members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) about the spread of Covid-19.
There were 1,914 cases of Covid-19 confirmed this evening with the total number of cases in the past seven days up by 33% on the previous week.
“The situation has changed in relation to the disease, of that there is no doubt, and we’re going to have to take that on board in terms of decisions we take next week,” An Taoiseach said.
He added that vaccines have “transformed the environment totally” and that the country is “in a much different position now” compared to last year because vaccinations are preventing hospitalisations.
Martin said that the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme is “already underway” to over-80s and over-65s in residential homes and that an expansion is to be discussed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
“Then we’re going to have to assess the situation then in terms of the number of cases and so on because there’s not a whole lot left to reopen,” Martin said.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris yesterday suggested that vaccine certs may remain if and when nightclubs reopen and the Taoiseach made reference to certs today.
I think behaviour is a factor and I think we will be looking at vaccination certs for example, the Covid certs that have been used so far in terms of access to hospitality. There’s a variety of options we can look at and that’s what we’re going to do but I don’t want to speculate unduly because I think it’s better we make a comprehensive decision on foot of the advice we get next week.
‘Early warning’
Speaking earlier, the HSE’s CEO Paul Reid said the resurgence of Covid-19 across the country in recent weeks is a “significant early warning” about the trajectory of the virus, but that there is no need for health officials to panic.
Reid said that although there has been a “huge swing” in Covid-19 rates and testing positivity levels across the country recently, that the vaccine rollout is working.
He Reid told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne programme that it is not the time to “hit the big red panic button”.
“We’re at a much different place than we would have been if we were looking at 2,000 cases [a day] at a different stage in this year,” he said.
“Vaccines are working. They are proving very effective… I would see what’s been happening over the past week or so not as a panic button, or a need to hit the big red panic button, but as a significant early warning of a number of interventions that we need to be conscious of.
“We’ve seen a huge swing, in cases that were declining, to very high positivity levels growing and cases growing every day.
“But… vaccines are working and protecting those who have been vaccinated from hospitalisations, illness and mortality.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said earlier that the Government has three options on lifting restrictions next week: proceed with lifting all remaining restrictions; delay or proceed while keeping some safeguards in place; or the use of vaccine certs and face masks in certain settings.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he also said the Government will consult with NPHET, which is due to meet on Monday before making a decision on Tuesday.
Harris also said that there is growing evidence for implementing a widespread booster programme in Ireland, citing Israel as an example.
“They faced similar choices and they went for the extension of the vaccine certs and a widespread booster vaccine programme and they seem to have managed to make great progress with the virus,” he said.
“We’re at a different point, this is not 2020. We live in a country now where the overwhelming majority of people are vaccinated…
“But we also live in a country where there are still in and around 300,000 people not vaccinated and interestingly around 70,000 people who’ve had their first dose, but haven’t come forward for their second dose.”
Harris said he is in favour of seeking “urgent advice” from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) regarding a widespread booster campaign.
Government is currently awaiting advice from NIAC in relation to this and expects a decision next week.
However, NIAC chair Professor Karina Butler said the focus in Ireland should be on people who remain unvaccinated rather than pushing for a widespread booster campaign.
She told RTÉ radio that with so much focus on boosters the number of people in Ireland who remain unvaccinated is “the real elephant in the room”.
“We really have to look as to why that is the case and fill the gaps in the knowledge, the gaps in information to give those people the confidence and the trust that getting vaccinated is the way forward,” she said.
She also noted that NIAC is considering data on which cohorts should be included next in the booster programme, but that she could not guarantee the advice sought from Government would be ready next week.
“When the advice is complete, when it is robust, if that is sooner, if that is this evening (it won’t be)…I won’t give a specific date.
“The advice will be given as soon as we have it ready to go.”
Contains reporting by Stephen McDermott and Rónán Duffy
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The real elephant in the room is the appalling health service of this country. Every winter for as long as anyone can remember, There’s people waiting weeks on beds, elderly dying in waiting rooms & corridors.
Covid is an excuse… even when 94% are vaccinated. Laughable
@David Lee: At least the elephant got a room – he must have gone private.
@David Lee: correct, apparently Ireland has circa 35% fewer hospital beds than the EU average, but we have plenty of administrators.
@Handsome McWonderful: Brilliant! I love it.
@David Lee: We have one of the worst Infection Prevention and Control cultures in the West, as evidenced by the high prevalence and impact of SEPSIS. Length of stay for sepsis patients here is more than double US average and death rates are higher too. That is also one of the CMOs responsibilities yet no one wants to investigate. Its down to bad culture, low investment in modern medicine, bad training, lack of good hygiene practices and much more by our adored healthcare professionals.
@David Lee: Not to diminish the point that the health service isn’t working well.. But.. Most winters, old people end up on trollies because of the large amount of respiratory illness going about, clogging up hospitals with avoidable disease. The best way to control that is with people exercising personal responsibility. For example, have you got your flu jab this year? Do you leave the house when you have a cough, sneezing, sniffles, a temp? Maybe, as a society, we could stop being so OK with infecting eachother needlessly.
@Paul Tao: Its not that long ago that having ‘a bit of a cough or the sniffles’ wasn’t a good enough reason to stay off work. Employers would dismiss these symptoms.
@Jules: ah yeah sure just make the medics do even more work, see how long that lasts! gimme a break.
@Paul Tao: 100% this. Prevention is better than cure, and it’s sad to see some people more focused on the number of hospital beds than how to prevent people ending up in them.
@Paul Tao: I don’t think thats the reason. In Germany we have the tradition to go to work no matter what. Its called “sich gesund Arbeiten” (to heal through work). If one at work has it, everyone will get it and there are no such problems like people on trolleys in hospital or on waiting lists. This must be something else.
@Handsome McWonderful: Hahaha.
@Hotirish: On a per capita basis there are fewer doctors in Ireland than the EU average. The system is broken and slaintecare is being killed off in front of our eyes.
@David Lee: well said, I’m not an anti vaxer, I got my two vaccines as soon as they were available and I encourage everyone to get it. This is exploiting the unvaccinated to disguise a very poorly managed health system.
@David Lee: Sure, excuse the selfish 300,000 who are happy to pile more work on health system and health care workers.
@Handsome McWonderful: Funny cause it’s true
@David Lee: You’re 100% correct David and everyone knows this. Last year it wasn’t (as) apparent because there were no vaccines and we were all in lockdown anyway – remember restrictions were introduced in October. This year the cover is blown. The margin of error for the health service is so wafer thin. They’re not having these conversations in other European countries – Germany or France – are not considering delaying their re-opening, The common denominator here is the health service that has been mismanaged and running on fumes for years. It’ll be interesting to see how far the government are willing to go to cover up the cracks. Turning the shame hose on the unvaccinated appears to be their first tactic. If in doubt, blame the people. That’s been the narrative right the way though the pandemic. Zero accountability in our leadership.
@Handsome McWonderful: he could still be an elephant on a trolley even if he signs private these days. Saw it many a time.
@Sean McCarthy: Divide and conquer vaccine bullies have been out in force this week. Its been disgusting. Phillip Nolan on all media outlets blaming everyone but himself his cohorts who are the ones fully responsible for the appalling state of our healthservice.. Why have we no journalists who will question why no improvements have been made,why no extra I.c.u beds,why there’s still a serious lack of staff which is actually getting worse.Close to reaching the 1000000 mark on waiting lists,vulnerable children having surgeries cancelled again. Inadequate services in hospitals, patients on trolleys, clinics being cancelled, hospitals (Navan) telling people not to come unless it’s urgent because they can’t cope.The myriad of problems is endless but blame the small % it deflects from them.
@Paul Tao: Fair point, and a timely reminder.
Also check with your GP for a flu jab soon – mine is only doing people aged 65+ as yet. If you’re not in, you can’t win.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: will you stop!. yould be sacked if every time u woke up with a slight symptom, u rang work and said I won’t be in. covid has f…ked some peoples heads. in the past with any illness, u got vaxed, got on with your day as normal and stayed at home if u felt sick. if I wake in the morning with a sniffle, I shouldn’t go outside the door?
@Handsome McWonderful: comment of the week
let’s demonize the unvaccinated
@ed w: or find out why….. And critically assess the reasoning…
@ed w: let’s not. They have made a personal decision not to get vaccinated. However this is a unique situation and to protect other people then they must show extra care when in the company of other people and accept that they may be excluded from some social gatherings. A lot of pregnant women have not had the vaccine and that is understandable. We should not demonise this decision.
@ed w: Or, remove all restrictions and let the unvaccinated get their immunity the natural way and in accordance with their personal choice, ie, by getting infected. Getting vaccinated is merely mimicking the infection, so getting infected, if that’s what they want, as often as they like, has to be just as good for them developing anti bodies.
@Neil Neart: Problem with that is they will clog up hospitals. People will have important proceedures delayed, and others will die through no fault of their own.
@Neil Neart: Except of course along the way they risk infecting others, who may be either vaccinated or unvaccinated, who may then go on to get very sick, end up clogging up the hospitals or even die.
@ed w: Yes great idea. I’m all for your idea. They are pariah.
@Anne Busher Collins: i was commenting on the fact that in the last two days we have blamed the unvaccinated, the brits,and alcohol. rather than trying to critically assess what’s going wrong.
for 18 months there seems to have this constant blame game rather than figuring out what seems to actually causing the problems.
@ed w: there can’t be many unvaccinated people left living who haven’t cought covid if covid is so infectious.and if not then doesn’t that show that they must b following hygiene guidelines like washing hands,masks and social distancing.. always will the those who don’t follow guidelines both unvaccinated or vaccinated.1500-2000 cases regularly now for a good while.. how can the unvaccinated and blamed for all spread..but but but vaccinated people don’t spread as much..always blame on someone but never vaccinated people who don’t get tested(why) unless they are sick..vaccinated close contacts don’t get tested because they might only kill a few grannies vs unvaccinated will kill them all..same crap couple of weeks ago in schools,close contacts are no longer a risk.isn’t modern science great
@ed w: Its not about demonising. However, we all have a responsibility to do the right thing. The vaccinations have been shown to be effective. Not taking a vaccination is selfish. Moreover, we in Ireland and the first world are privileged. Never did we have to ask IF we would get a vaccination but WHEN. People who don’t take vaccination are effectively giving two fingers to over worked health care workers; depriving other patients of care for other ailments, society and prolonging the pandemic.
@ed w: All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
Tell me what has become of my life
I have a wife and two children who love me
I am the victim of police brutality, no
I’m tired of being the victim of hate
You’re raping me of my pride
Oh, for God’s sake
I look to heaven to fulfill its prophecy…
Set me free
I think Jackson had made correct assumptions in this song
@Anne Busher Collins: I’d say you were one of the ones who put “Be Kind” on her Facebook page. The hypocrisy of all you vaccine bullies is unbelievable.
@SquintEastwood: Wow, the most sensible comment I’ve seen on the journal probably since the pandemic begun. You’re 100% right, goalposts keep shifting time and time again. I think anyone with the slightest ability to critically think can see this and are sick and tired of this nonsense.
If 7% of unvaccinated people are the cause of all of our problems, why do we even bother getting the flu vaccine with all the amount of people unvaccinated against that?
@ed w:
I’m with you 1000% on this point.
@Neil Neart:
And. Fill. Up. The. Hospitals. And. ICU’s.
Don’t bother applying for a job in NPHET anytime soon.
@Kevin: I don’t think you really get his point!!
@Franny Ando:
True. Misinterpretation of context when speed reading while trying to metaphorically best common sense into some of the Journal commentariat. A thankless task in someways but I’m on a mission of enlightenment…. :-)
@Kevin: lol
Absolute nonsense! Ya let’s blame the 8% for all the cases.nice propaganda and a smear campaign going on now against the Unvaccinated.These people spreading hate, division and discrimination will be remembered! Leo and pat Kenny especially!
@Mark O’ Keeffe: True, the vitriol has been unrelenting this week , all news bulletins , every radio ‘chat show’ , all a completely narrow and one sided narrative
@Mark O’ Keeffe: is every mention of pat Kenny like the newest iteration of Godwin’s law?
@Mark O’ Keeffe: 66% of Covid cases taking up ICU beds are unvaccinated people. He’s right.
@Mark O’ Keeffe: 8% of the population 67% of the ICU beds , and that doesn’t take into account their super spreader status , yes I do blame them
@GrumpyAulFella:…. and the unvaccinated incubate/harbour the virus for longer giving it time to perhaps mutate into something we could all do without…..they are walking virus factories.
@GrumpyAulFella: Two weeks have had to pass after you got your second shot before you’re considered fully vaccinated. If you got just one shot or got your second shot a week ago and end up in hospital you are considered unvaccinated. Some people have reactions from the shot (rare side effects) and end up in ICU. The media sensationalises everything to fit their agenda, in this case demonising a certain group of people. They are not the first to do this as anyone who knows their 1930s European history will know.
@Em Gee: it’s very clear from the numbers that the 300K who have chosen not to get vaccinated are a large part of the infection rate problem. 66% of cases in ICU are unvaxed yet they only make up 10% of the eligible vax population. So clearly they are a big problem. So if you’re talking about this cohort being blamed or demonised then it’s probably with just cause.
@GrumpyAulFella: so by that logic 33% of ICU beds are being taken up by the vaccinated. So the vaccine didn’t work for 1/3 of them. That’s a shocking statistic for vaccines.
@Seán O’Sullivan: Be fair – they didn’t ask for a bad case of Covid and for all you know they had one jab and were still vulnerable because of chemo or any other serious illness. Don’t blame sick people. I’m more inclined to blame the people who deliberately avoid getting the full dose and are pretending to themselves that it isn’t a serious epidemic and that they will be fine regardless. They’re the ones passng it on. It isn’t about how they personally feel about jabs or about going to a doctor or clinic. They can’t seem to get that through their heads. It’s unfair on the rising number of people who are in hospital with Covid.
@Pádraic Ó Braonáin: wheres your reasearch on that
@David Chadwick: It’s very basic science and common knowledge.
Research on virus reproduction and mutation was done many many years ago… It’s simple really…the more a virus reproduces, the more chance it has to mutate….and it does….and it will. How on earth could you not know that?
@GrumpyAulFella: but we aren’t allowed to know how many are in hospital or ICU specifically due to covid; nobody knows what any of the people in ICU are actually there for.
Logically, from this it follows that, even if 66% of beds are occupied by unvaccinated patients, there is still no evidence whatsoever that their vaccination status was in any way related to their visit to hospital..
You’re all over these articles this week with this; please understand the massive flaw in your persistent argument.
@Mark O’ Keeffe: yeah,you’re right,Kenny never misses an opportunity to slag off the unvaccinated,it’s like an obsession he has,stop listening when he comes on,he just winds me up.
Winter comes around every year , yet it still seems to catch the HSE off guard
@Karl Pinker: Since when can a health service prevent winter coming along.
@Anne Busher Collins: What??
@Anne Busher Collins: seems the hse are surprised that it does come around every year
@Anne Busher Collins: They managed last year no flu how did that happen did the flu take a year off, to let rona have a good run
@GrumpyAulFella: and the lack of travel.
@GrumpyAulFella: no, that does not explain why flu completely vanished last year. Neither do masks.
The current govt has to go down as one of if not the worst govt in the history of the state. They are so far out of touch with reality and what people want. We are outliers in terms of covid policy in the EU and have been through the whole pandemic. One would wonder if there are conflicts of interest at play. IE where are the antigen tests? Most EU countries are using antigen tests first and only use PCR after a positive result hence the lower rate as they are only concerned about infectious people. We are the only EU country requiring a negative PCR test before entry.
We have spent Billions on health and its gone but we do not have any extra capacity. We were promised extra capacity, remember the Dail covid committee that got disbanded for asking tough questions to the HSE? In the end the HSE actually refused to appear before it. Where did the money go? From day one the best way to beat covid was extra capacity in A&Es. China build hospitals in a matter of weeks. A missed opportunity and a shambles……
@Diarmuid O’Braonáin: I agree with you about Antigen test. However, saying we should be like China. No way. China abuses people, displaces and disappears people who get in the way.
@Ger Murphy: the guy who thinks it’s unacceptable to decline a novel vaccine says we shouldn’t be like China! Lol!
World governments policy : Lets blame the unvaccinated for the vaccinated getting the virus that we advised them to get vaccinated against based on the data provided to us by the makers of these vaccines who said they are really effective.
@David A. Murray: makes sense to me. Perhaps you’re a little low on the IQ scale.
@David A. Murray: Covid spreads from both vaccinated and unvaccinated.
Can you explain to me why so many vaccinated appear to be worried about getting a virus they were vaccinated against?
Then explain why the unvaccinated appear not to be worried about getting a virus they were/are not vaccinated against?
Thanks
The real elephant in the room are the pharmaceutical companies who constantly pollute the planet for profit, the other elephants in the room are the lying governments all over the world pretending they actually care about peoples health, but we all know what they care about is big profits empowerment over others, and you bet right now like all the employees if the pharma are exempt, from getting the clot shots so are all governments exempting themselves & if you have seen any of them being stuck with a needle it’s just an act, don’t believe a word they say their politicians they lie professionally
My brother is unvacinated. He doesn’t get invited to any family functions
@Alan Campbell: He would be better off distancing himself from fascists anyway! If you wondered how past atrocities happened and family members disowned their own, now you know!
@Mark O’ Keeffe: Imagine being part of that family. I feel for the lad.
@Alan Campbell: My brother is vaccinated and doesnt get invited to family functions. Purely because hes a knob. Nothing to do with his personal choices
@Mr_Bumkee: Oh yeah? You do realise it’s not always clear cut when fascist or totalitarian laws come in. They were having these arguments in Deutschland in the 1930’s. When peoples’ freedoms are taken away in the name of security, big red flag.
@Alan Campbell: He’s probably better off he will not be getting affected from the clot shot you all have had
@Seosamh Ohuaine: thanks for the giggle!
@Tomo: Read up on the social and political situation in Germany that led to the overthrow of the Weimar Republic in Germany in the early 1930′s. You had an aristocracy, a military class, a workforce and paramilitary factions all of who viewed that government system as unsatisfactory. There had been no history or tradition of anything except royal and military rule. Totalitarianism is being equated with any attempt to have some people recognise that a pandemic means a pandemic and that we all have to be careful and not complacent. Your argument is ridiculous.
@Alan Campbell: a purely toxic thing to do. He’s better off without you.
@Alan Campbell: why is that? to protect him? Because contagiosity does not depend on the fact that you are vaccinated or not.
@Mark O’ Keeffe: Ask any surviving grandparents. They’ll tell you exactly what TB did to generations of Irish people before the BCG jab. It reached the point where they wouldn’t marry into a family if any of that family had TB. Atrocities my eye. They didn’t want to spread an atrocious contagious disease. Get sense.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: Where in the name of God did you get that codswallop.
@Alan Campbell:
Excellent. I’d give him a bell and a dog box to sleep in until he gets the message.
@Alan Campbell: Sounds to me like he is better off.
I do a bit of bar work every now and then and the soap situation is shocking. People are still not washing their hands in the jacks. You could fill a soap dispenser on a Friday evening and it’s still mostly full by last call on Sunday. People shouldn’t have to be told to wash their hands 18 months into a pandemic.
@Mr Light: people shouldn’t have to be told to wash their hands regardless of COVID
@Mr Light: People shouldn’t have to be told that even without a pandemic.
@Mr Light: Lovely, you’d wonder what else they have. I hope at least they’re sanitising their hands if it’s quicker. Happy to see my nearest shops always topping up the gels.
She’s right, the Irish people have had enough of these adults acting like teenagers.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: Anything to say about some fully vaccinated people now thinking they’re bulletproof because of the vaccine. I see it everyday, social distancing is a thing of the past for some of them. I know a few vaccinated that have tested positive.
It’s not just the unvaccinated that are the problem.
@JedBartlett: It’s a bit early in the day for bedtime stories ‘Jed’.
@JedBartlett: you and your type are exactly the problem.
@Johnny: Me and my type? Who is my type exactly, those who have 2 shots of moderna in their arm?
@JedBartlett: yes I agree with you, I have a middle age vaccinated friend who felt she was secure been vaccinated, she got covid from her daughter,she was floored for a full month never so sick in her life,so yes been vaccinated still need to be very careful and remember you still can get very sick.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: Bedtime stories are apt for you considering your childish attitude that you currently display around here, stamping your foot with little temper tantrums about the unvaccinated
@Johnny: I’m sure Jed thinks the same about you. Divide and conquer. That’s what this is all about.
@JedBartlett: Jed, it’s all to do with time…..a vaccinated person (in general) fights and overcomes the virus fairly quickly and expels it. Whereas an unvaccinated person would take time to build up a defense first, meanwhile infecting all around them.
@JedBartlett: Are you serious? Ha ha! Yourself, Franny Ando and Hugo Bugo post hundreds of comments on here daily squealing about oppression and crying the poor victim. If I were you I’d get another hobby, any hobby.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: kettle pot black. I see more comments from you daily Rebecca.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: Hundreds of comments daily? Ah here, good luck to you. Engaging with you is like talking to a parrot, they just repeat the same thing again and again.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: Congratulations on your position of spokes person for all Irish people
@Rebecca BarrettNp: I hope your including Government pharmaceutical & doctors in what your saying, because none of the above have taken any clot shots it’s only people like yourself who believes all the lies being bombarded at you on a daily bases
@JK: Bad grammar.
@JK: I see Jim Corr has completely abandoned his music career now.
@Rebecca BarrettNp: You’re vaccinated Rebecca. Chill out and enjoy life. The unvaxed are of no concern to you. Or are you worried the vaccines don’t work?
@Johnny: knob
@Rebecca BarrettNp: YAWN
It may be using freedom of choice not to vaccinate, however our health care workers don’t have that freedom when unvaccinated present in hospitals needing their care. Think of others, the choice is not just personal, it affects many.
@Olive Whyte: Exactly, conflating vaccination with the body autonomy is wrong.
You are not getting the vaccination for yourself.
@Cynical: then you’re very foolish. You have a responsibility to look after yourself primarily. Do any first aid course and it’s drilled into you that your own safety is you’re primary concern. If you’re not convinced the vaccines are safe don’t get one. By all means respect other people’s choices and take all necessary precautions but do what’s best for you.
@Cynical: Once more… The injection does not prevent viral transmission or infection. You’re taking or not taking the injection affects nobody else.
It’s a personal choice to take the vaccine. This is a unique situation where by not taking the vaccine means you are putting not only yourself but other people at risk. Therefore you should take extra precautions and in some cases accept you may have to be excluded from some gatherings. We can’t demonise someone for not taking the vaccine, a lot of pregnant women have not taken the vaccine, but they must accept the consequences.
@Seán O’Sullivan: that is utter nonsense and completely false. 0 pregnant women have died in Ireland due to covid and a whopping total of 16 have been in ICU with a positive PCR test. Source: thejournal.ie/pregnancy-covid-19-5530562-Aug2021/
@Seán O’Sullivan: Scaremongering much? There have been no deaths in Ireland attributed to covid. NONE.
@James Daly:. * pregnancy deaths.*
Simon really still thinks or wishes he is Minister for Health.
@Will Roche: so do a lot of people!
@Hotirish: his poor performance in that job was about to take down a Government until they called an early election to save his career.
@Hotirish: A lot of people, who exactly ? Relatives of those who died in nursing homes because of a deliberate policy, those who were infected or bereaved because he cancelled a rugby match but allowed the Italian fans in anway when Italy was the Covid hot spot, or those infected by the thousands he allowed return unchecked from Cheltenham?
I haven’t yet seen any figures on that. It isn’t a fact until we see a report – we did have contact tracing and I’ve yet to see a link to any percentages of cases linked to Cheltenham 2020. Has anyone else got a source of stats?
Typical scare mongering from nephet as per usual making it up as they go along
The reason we all need booster jabs is because of the anti vax mob. The Covid pass must remain until every one of them cop on. No jab no job should be mantra. Our country has done so well but when individuals act against common sence they endanger everything. If your not vaxed then when they end in hospital they should pay full costs
@Dave Phelan: Put your head back in the sand and leave humanity alone
@Dave Phelan: No jab, no friends.
@Dave Phelan: The media have really done a job on you. You’re even more brainwashed than most.
@Ruairi Colton: The way back is going to be very long for some people it seems.
@JedBartlett: The love for authoritarian policies in Ireland is gonna be a huge problem for people when things get back to normal. These policies do set precedents.
For example, if met Eireann issued a status red weather warning and someone was caught outside their house and got injured, I can imagine people in this very comment section saying “they deserve it!” or aren’t listening to the weather experts advice and should have to pay their own hospital bill if injured.
There’s a huge shift happening and a very worrying precedent being set. Not everyone has studied political science or done a research methods class in university. It’s hard for people to understand the consequences of certain decisions or what the harmless and happy road that censorship and authoritarianism looks like.
@Tomo: agree 100%. People dont realise the consequences of their total compliance and unnecessary fear.
@Tomo: this was already happening on the journal comments, same if someone needs the coastguard the judges come out in force
@Anne Busher Collins: Seriously though, friends would care about you and know when you got the chance to get both jabs. I’ve noticed people who know each others dates as they know their birthdays. It’s strangers with a financial and political interest in spreading it that don’t care if you get it or not.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: “ It’s strangers with a financial and political interest in spreading it that don’t care if you get it or not.”
Are you serious? I thought it was only anti-vaxxers who were lost down conspiracy theory rabbit holes.
@Dave Phelan: that’s some messed up thinking.
Firstly, we don’t need booster jabs and the WHO have recommended against them. Secondly, the situation we’re in has nothing to do with the ‘anti vax mob’; surely at this stage you must understand that the injections do dot prevent transmission or infection? The percentages of vaxxed vs unvaxxed occupying hospital and ICU beds is completely meaningless when we don’t even know what percentage were admitted due to covid, what percentage became infected in hospital etc.
3. Given that transmission and infection are just as likely with vaccinated people, there is no logical reasoning to support vax passports or the absurd ‘no jab no job’ matra.
4. Those who choose to decline the injection pay their taxes just the same as those who chose to take up the offer; as such, they are just as entitled to state funded medical care.
For the general population, NIAC have 2 options for boosters. 1. Approve them. Are they more qualified than the experts in the FDA/CDC who rejected this? Which experts will you listen to then? 2. Reject them. Despite knowing the immunity from the initial jabs wanes significantly after a few months & the virus is still rampant. What will you do then? Hide away in fear forever? Get added to the booster group by becoming as unhealthy as possible (obesity might be an option?) or prank your way in as an old man/lady? Mimic the booster by purposely getting infected, solely to build the antibodies to protect you from the same virus? Become an anti-vaxxer, use your own judgement, eat as healthily as possible, exercise as best you can & trust your own body’s immune system?
“A significant early warning, but no need to hit the panic button”
Isn’t that what they usually say to soften people up to the idea, about a month before they hit the panic button?
What medical qualifications has Paul Reid got to tell us what to do about our health?? Is it legal to give medical advice publicly without medical qualifications??
@Brendan We Are One Ireland.: it wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t so obviously brain dead..
First rule of dialogue here is to respect others and not presume you know their motives or even experiences. There are genuine reasons not to get vaccinated.
If we (Ireland) are to reduce the morbidity and mortality from death we need to do more than vaccinate our population. We need to test and trace how and where it is spread. We need to isolate the carriers humanely at home or in quarantine. Over 2000 cases detected but many more out in community being brushed under the school carpets. Reopening is effectively letting all the community transmission rip. The vulnerable are being marginalised because to protect them would require too much public effort. We have never paid frontline medical staff in money respect or authority in their workplace.Mismanagement is defended to the hilt.So sad
OK, but what are they gonna do about the anti-vaxxers? Like I don’t think anything can be said or done to convince these people to take the vaccine, so 92 percent is probably as high as we (or any country) is gonna get? So there’s little point in wasting time addressing that elephant because it’s a pointless, time wasting exercise.
I think a booster campaign for the vulnerable needs to be prioritised.
@Laura Walsh: It isn’t 92%. Only 3,721,096 of our population is fully vaccinated, that’s 74.68%.
If you count people who have had at least one dose so far, that’s still only 3,789,187, or 76.05% of our population of about five million. Of those, 236,014 had the Janssen single-dose, once-off jab and everyone else is waiting for the second jab plus a fortnight to be covered.
Open up the night clubs flood the already overcrowded ER rooms with drunks. Can’t understand why they picked the 22th of October worst time of year.
@John brett: boris might be an id1ot but I totally agree with his if not now when reopening in the summer. we are now panicking into another winter.
@John brett: Perhaps because they knew they wouldnt be able to open up in flu season and never wanted to open in the first place.
I just got an additional jab of Pfizer, as I am on medication that means I am immuno-suppressed. For the first time I feel really protected, or will be when it kicks in fully, and I am really grateful I was called to receive it. My age cohort were forced to get the ‘Hell or to Connaught’ Astra Zeneca vaccine, or else , in Coveney’s words, ‘Get in the back of the queue’ Luke O’Neill and above all Kingston Mills have very strongly recommended that we should receive additional or at least booster jabs. Niac chooses to ignore expert advice, putting my age cohort at series risk as the limited protection offered by Astra Zeneca wanes. Why is this acceptable?
Thought I’d never say it but I’ll be happy to see the shinners forming a goverment next election.
Michael won’t press the panic button he’ll create an expert committee to look into it.
Paul Reid looks like he’s just spotted his wife talking to his girlfriend
serious
I know of pubs and restaurants that don’t ask for vaccination certs (my local included). Not saying that un-vaccinated are the issue here, that’s 100% their choice, the issue is that not everybody in the hospitality sector etc is following guidelines. A gym up the road from me has told a covid positive employee to come to work and just keep his mask on. Insane! I live with my mother who has Stage 4 cancer, I have an immune disorder, and young children. I go out only to get groceries, all other activities are outdoors. I don’t want to keep living like this, but the reality is that this virus is dangerous, and for as long as people keep mixing unnecessarily, this isn’t going to go away. Our health system is appalling, but I feel that our government have gotten this all wrong from the start!
have your say