The Clare Covid-19 Vaccination Centre is permanently relocating from the former outpatients’ department at Ennis Hospital to Treacy’s West County Hotel from this Wednesday, which will immediately triple the capacity for walk-in clinics.
As Christmas approaches, 13 walk-in clinics are being held across the three Mid-West Covid-19 Centres from Monday, December 20 up to Thursday, December 23rd, delivering vaccine booster doses for people aged 40 and older, and primary Dose 1 and 2 vaccines for anyone yet to receive a vaccine.
These extended half-day and full-day walk-in clinics are being held to meet public demand for booster vaccines, and as part of the national effort to maximise the population’s immunity in view of the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omircon variant, and continued prevalence of the virus’s Delta variant.
Clare walk-in clinics for the 40 years age group and older will begin at the West County at 3.30pm on December 22nd. The walk-in clinics scheduled for the former outpatients department at Ennis Hospital December 20 and 21 will still run in that location.
Until close of business this Thursday, anyone notified to attend a scheduled clinic at the former outpatients department should attend that location as notified.
In view of the exceptional demand for Covid-19 vaccine boosters, people should note that if they are eligible for vaccination, they can attend a walk-in clinic at any of the three vaccination centres in Limerick, Clare or Tipperary, regardless of their county of residence.
Anyone attending the Limerick centre should note for their convenience the free shuttle-bus service, running daily between the Southcourt Hotel, Raheen, and centre at Scoil Carmel, every half-hour between 8am and 7.30pm. Limited parking is available on-site, and there is additional parking at the nearby former Moloney’s Garage at Punch’s Cross, from which there is easy pedestrian access to Scoil Carmel.
Booster Clinics
The booster clinics for those 40 years and older will run on Monday, December 20 in Scoil Carmel, Limerick from 8.30am to 7pm; Ennis Hospital 8.30am to 7pm and Nenagh Abbey Court Hotel from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
They will continue at these three venues on Wednesday, December 22 from 3.30pm to 7pm and on Thursday, December 23 from 8.30am to 7pm.
The Walk-In Booster Vaccine Clinics listed above are people aged 40 years and older. No others will be permitted. People should not attend for a booster dose until three months or 90 days have elapsed since they received their second vaccine, in line with the latest national guidance.
Anyone in this age group who had the single-dose Janssen vaccine must also wait at least three months before attending for a booster dose.
Anyone who has had a Covid-19 positive result in the last six months should not attend for a booster vaccine.
Further information on the Covid-19 Vaccine Booster is available at this link: https://bit.ly/320tqYM
Vaccine Dose 1 and Dose 2 Clinics
Anyone requiring Dose 1 and Dose 2 Pfizer can get one in the Nenagh Abbey Court Hotel on Monday, December 20 from 4 to 7pm and Scoil Carmel Limerick and Ennis Hospital on Tuesday, December 21 from 4 to 7pm.
The Walk-In Dose 1 and Dose 2 Vaccine Clinics listed above are strictly for people who have not yet received any vaccination dose. They should not be attended by anyone seeking a third vaccine dose.
Those attending for Dose 2 should bring their vaccine record card. A minimum of 21 days must have passed after Pfizer Dose 1 before Dose 2 is administered. The interval is 28 days for people who have received AstraZeneca/Moderna Dose 1 and are presenting for Pfizer Dose 2.
Anyone who has received a Covid-positive swab should not attend for either Dose 1 or Dose 2 vaccination until at least 28 days after the date of the Covid-positive result.
No appointment is necessary for these walk-in clinics, and there is no requirement to register on the national vaccine registration portal. However, in the case of Dose 1 and Dose 2 clinics, children under 16 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
People may experience delays when attending walk-in clinics, and the HSE would advise people to dress appropriately for the inclement weather.
For identification, anyone attending either Booster or Dose 1&2 clinics should bring their birth certificate, or a photo ID such as driving licence, public services card, travel pass, passport, Garda-issued National Age Card, or school or college ID). For queries, contact the local HSE-approved helpline number on 087-9681240 (9am-6pm, seven days a week).
Anyone who wants to receive a Dose 1, Dose 2 or Booster vaccine, but who can’t attend any of the walk-in clinics listed above, should regularly check this link — https://bit.ly/3e0gtRj — on the HSE website, which is updated daily as new walk-in clinics are added, and also listen to their local radio news bulletins.
Dan Danaher
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.