Vaccine boosters being delivered across Cavan

More than 130 received booster jab at Drumalee Practice

GP surgeries across the region have begun to deliver Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to patients.

Those aged 80 and over are being offered the booster dose whether they live in their own homes or in residential care.

In most cases vaccine boosters are being delivered through the network of GP surgeries. However HSE vaccination teams are providing boosters for those aged 65 and over in nursing homes and other residential facilities.

Vaccination against seasonal influenza is also being administered alongside the Covid vaccine booster, particularly for vulnerable populations and healthcare workers.

At Drumalee GP surgery more than 130 people received their booster vaccinations earlier today, with almost the same number also receiving the flu jab too.

“Do you know what? They're all on time,” Dr Dara Hume told The Anglo-Celt. “Everyone is in such good form, they're delighted, and the best line of the day was an 82-year-old lady who said to me, 'Give me whatever you have, because I'm only 82 and I've an awful lot more years to live'.

“And she bounced out of here.”

Confirmed cases

Yesterday the Health Protection Surveillance Centre was notified of 1,271 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 297 COVID-19 patients hospitalised, of which 59 are in ICU.

The HSE also issued a statement saying the additional vaccine dose will be offered to people with weakened immune system aged 12 and over. This includes those with certain underlying health conditions or who are undergoing specific treatments meaning they are immuno-compromised or immuno-suppressed and have a reduced response to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr Hume said doctors are conscious of “outbreaks” of Covid cropping up, with counties Cavan and Monaghan among the worst hit over the past 15 months, recording at times some of the highest rates of spread per 100,000 population in Europe.

“We're aware of outbreaks and cases of Covid, in nursing homes locally, and they've been in people who have been vaccinated. So this is, as another lady said to me, the 'insurance policy'. This is to get them through the winter hopefully.”