The HSE’s Covid-19 vaccination programme is to begin today to administer the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
The most vulnerable will be prioritised for the jab, beginning with people in long-term care facilities, nursing homes and the staff in the facilities.
Paul Reid, HSE chief executive, said the programme will start with elderly residents in four hospital locations in Ireland. The coming month will focus on nursing homes.
Mr Reid commented this morning: “Today, a great beacon of light starts to shine, as we commence our vaccination programme. Let’s all galvanise and unite behind this. It will take time but stay positive, stay safe, stick with us and we will get there.”
The first shipment of 10,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in Ireland on Saturday. Around 180 people have been trained to carry out vaccinations in the community while a further 1,500 vaccinators are to be trained in hospitals.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said Ireland will see around 40,000 doses of the vaccine arriving every week from January.
Meanwhile, Moderna’s vaccine may be approved by European regulators as early as January 6th.
