Another series of scheduled walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinics for adults, and children aged 12 and over, has been organised over the coming days.
The Mid-West Covid-19 Vaccination Centres will operate in Limerick, Ennis and Nenagh over the weekend.
These local clinics form part of the nationwide effort to maximise uptake for Pfizer Dose 1 and 2 and Modern Dose 2 vaccinations, and to provide easy access for those people who have received AstraZeneca Dose 1 and who now, as per national guidance, can receive the Pfizer vaccine as their second dose.
On Friday, people can get Pfizer Dose 1 and 2 at Limerick Racecourse from 2 to 7pm and Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis from 4 to 7pm. The Moderna Dose 2 will also be available the same day in Limerick Racecourse from 2 to 7pm.
On Saturday, Pfizer Dose 1 and 2 will be available in Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh and Limerick Racecourse from 9am to 6pm.
On Sunday, Pfizer Dose 1 and will be available in Treacy’s West County Hotel from 9am to 6pm.
Last week, to close of business on Sunday September 12th, a total of 6,291 doses of vaccine were administered in the Mid-West Covid-19 Vaccination Centres at Limerick Racecourse, the West County Hotel, Ennis, and the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, bringing to 353,804 the total vaccines administered under the UL Hospitals’ Group vaccination programme since it began on January 4th.
This total to date includes healthcare workers, residents and staff of nursing homes, patients in the various cohorts and age groups, and 17,620 vaccines that have been administered to 12-15-year-olds in recent weeks.
The total does not include the vaccination work undertaken by their colleagues in HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare, the National Ambulance Service, General Practitioners and pharmacists.
Last week’s regional total of 6,291 doses was composed of 3,594 vaccines in Limerick Racecourse; 1,671 in the West County, Ennis; and 1,026 in the Abbey Court, Nenagh.
While the uptake for Covid-19 vaccination in the Mid-West has been very satisfactory, UL Hospitals’ Groups remains mindful of the transmissibility of Covid-19, particularly the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2.
The group urges anyone who has yet to receive a first or second dose of vaccine to attend this week’s walk-in clinics, including anyone aged 16 and over, parents of children aged 12-15, and those who have received an AstraZeneca Dose 1 and can now receive Pfizer vaccine for their second dose.
Anyone attending for second doses of Pfizer or Moderna should bring their vaccine record card with them.
For the Pfizer vaccine, a minimum of 21 days must have passed after Dose 1 before Dose 2 is administered: this should be observed also for people who have received AstraZeneca Dose 1 and who are receiving Pfizer for their second dose.
The second dose of Moderna must be administered at least 28 days after Moderna Dose 1.
Those who wish to attend the clinics do not require an appointment, and do not need to register in advance on the national vaccine registration portal.
Children under 16 years must be accompanied to the centre by a parent or guardian.
For identification, anyone attending these clinics should bring with them their birth certificate, or a photo ID.
Anyone with queries can contact the local HSE approved helpline number on 087-9681240 (9am-6pm, seven days a week). All clinic dates and times related information will be published on www.hse.ie.
Outside of these walk-in clinics, parents or guardians of children aged 12 to 15 may continue to register children on the HSE website via this link: https://vaccine.hse.ie/#register
UL Hospitals Group’ Covid-19 vaccination teams continue working to ensure that everyone in the Mid-West will receive a vaccine, in line with national guidance on Covid-19 vaccination. Anyone with queries about Covid-19 vaccination may contact the national helpline on 1850-241850.
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.