THE UL Hospitals Group is inviting anyone in the Mid-West who has received their first dose of Astra Zeneca vaccine to get their second AZ dose at a special clinic scheduled for the Mid-West Vaccination Centre in Limerick Racecourse this Saturday morning, July 17, from 9am to 12 mid-day.
The vaccination centre team is running an approved HSE helpline number on 087-9681240 for queries, and people should also contact this number beforehand, 9am-6pm daily, to let the HSE know they will be attending the dedicated AstraZeneca Dose 2 clinic.
Anyone attending the clinic should bring with them a photo ID, in the form of a passport, driving licence, public services card or student card, and also their vaccination record card.
The group confirmed a number of operational issues have resulted in longer wait times for AZ vaccine appointments, including appointment texts not being received, incorrect numbers, people requesting rescheduled appointments, and DNAs (Did Not Attend).
Given the concerns about the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 and a fourth wave of Covid-19, the group is working to ensure that anyone who has not yet received their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be given an opportunity to receive it at this dedicated clinic this weekend.
The dedicated AstraZeneca Dose 2 clinic at Limerick Racecourse on Saturday is strictly for those people who have received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine at any hospital or vaccination centre in the Mid-West. No other vaccines, or first dose AstraZeneca vaccines, will be administered at this clinic.
Almost 250,000 vaccines against Covid-19 have been administered by the UL Hospitals’ Group, new official figures have revealed.
Official statistics released by the HSE on July 8 confirmed the 14-day incidence of the virus was almost five times smaller in Clare compared with Limerick.
The 14-day incidence in Limerick was 336 compared to 70 in Clare and 35 in Tipperary. There were less than five confirmed cases in Tipperary and Clare on July 8 and 35 in Limerick. The overall incidence in the Mid-West increased slightly over the previous seven days.
Responding to Clare Champion queries, the group confirmed it has administered 248,944 vaccines ahead of a special clinic to provide people with their second dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
Vaccines have been delivered to healthcare workers, residents and staff of nursing homes, and patients in the various cohorts and age groups. This figure does not include the vaccination work undertaken by Mid-West Community Healthcare, the National Ambulance Service, general practitioners and pharmacists.
In the week to close of business on Sunday July 11, a total of 23,090 doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered across the group’s three area vaccination centres in Limerick Racecourse, the West County Hotel, Ennis, and the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh.
The regional total for the group’s vaccination programme last week was composed of 11,692 vaccines administered in Limerick Racecourse; 5,904 in the West County, Ennis; and 5,494 in the Abbey Court, Nenagh.
With registration for the 30-34 age group now opened, preparations are also being made nationally for the opening of the registration portal for 25s-29s towards the end of this week.
Vaccination teams continue working to ensure that everyone in the region receives a vaccine, in line with national guidance on COVID-19 vaccination. The group urges anyone with a query about their vaccine to contact the national helpline on 1850-241850.
– By Dan Danaher
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.