The government’s decision to drop the requirement for the Digital Covid Certificate for hospitality was a mistake that they may regret, according to an expert in immunology.
Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, Kingston Mills, said that he is delighted with the easing of restrictions announced on Friday evening, but added that he is “surprised” at the pace at which they have been relaxed, in particular the certificates.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday with Katie Hannon, he said one reason for this is that there has been a poor uptake of the booster vaccine among younger people.
He also referred to “the other cloud on the horizon” with a new variant emerging in Denmark, saying Ireland has to be prepared for it.
“If we ease all restrictions now and don’t get prepared for something further, we are going to be in trouble,” he said.
Prof Mills said this variant is looking like it is more transmissible than Omicron and he imagines it will become a significant variant in the future.
Regarding the vaccination of young children, Prof Mills said there is a “natural reluctance” from parents and guardians
He added that on balance “the risks of the infection are much worse than the risks of the vaccine.”
Meanwhile, a consultant in Infectious Diseases at St James’s Hospital has said there is still a lot of the Omicron variant circulating, so she would largely recommend outdoor spaces for socialising still.
