Pharmacies to play key role in Covid vaccination roll-out

Pharmacies will play a key role in the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out starting early this month. It's understood they will be offering the Johnson and Johnson vaccine at first to those aged 50 years and over who have not already received a jab.

The news was confirmed yesterday evening by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

Following a long campaign to include pharmacists in the administration of Covid-19 injections, Mr Donnelly said the HSE confirmed on Monday afternoon that they would now have a role.

They would be “particularly important” in “some of the areas which are further from the vaccination centres”.

It's understood more than 1,200 pharmacists nationwide have submitted expressions of interest to the HSE to get involved in the vaccination programme. Between then, they could administer 50,000 vaccines a week.

Registration for over 40s

Mr Donnelly also confirmed that those in the 40-44 age group will be able to register for vaccination from Wednesday morning.

He said that more than half the adult population had received their first dose of the vaccine, with 2.7 million injections administered.

“We’re moving ever closer to meeting our goal of offering vaccinations to everyone in Ireland who wants one,” he said.

The HSE will work closely with pharmacists to ensure the smooth and efficient roll-out of vaccines in their premises, starting in June.

Mr Donnelly was speaking as he updated the Seanad on the progress of the vaccination programme.

He said that just two per cent of cases are now in those over 65 years and nearly four in five cases are those aged 45 years or younger.

The reduction of cases for healthcare workers and those in long-term residential care was between 97-98%, he added.