Vaccine centre staff thanked at special event

Cavan's main Covid vaccine centre has now closed.

Staff at the Covid-19 vaccine centres in Cavan and Monaghan have been thanked for their work.

Both centres, located at the Hotel Kilmore in Cavan and Glencarn Hotel in Castleblayney, closed over recent months.

The HSE says a “special appreciation event” was held last week to thank 226 staff who worked in the vaccine centres.

84,990 vaccine doses were given at the Cavan centre between April 2021 and June 2022, with 116 staff working there.

Monaghan staff administered 64,054 total vaccine doses, with 110 people working between the centres located first in the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan before moving to Castleblayney in July of last year.

At the ceremony, staff were presented with a certificate of appreciation to highlight their work during the Covid-19 to administer the vaccine to the people of Cavan, Monaghan and surrounding counties.

Dermot Monaghan, Chief Officer, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said “We will never forget the trojan work carried out by the staff of Cavan and Monaghan CVCs. There were long hours put in at a time of uncertainty and fear. The staff of Cavan and Monaghan CVCs always made a huge effort to put people at ease from the young to the young at heart. I thank them for everything they have done and wish them well in the future.”

Cara O’Neill, Head of Service Health and Wellbeing and COVID-19 Vaccination Lead, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said “I want to express my gratitude to Operational Site Manager Cavan CVC Eddie Ward and Paula Loughran Operational Staff Manager at Monaghan CVC and their staff, past and present for their tremendous efforts in administering the COVID-19 vaccination programme. They played a vital role in the reopening of society. Their work will never be forgotten and the kindness and care they showed to each person they vaccinated.”

Operational Site Manager at Cavan CVC, Eddie Ward said “I would like to thank my staff for all they have done not only since the start of the vaccination programme, but especially since January when I took up my role. They have worked tirelessly always with a positive attitude and putting the needs of those they vaccinated above their own every day. It was a very positive experience for me and is one I’ll never forget. Friendships were formed which will last a lifetime and great credit is due to all the staff who worked at Cavan CVC.”

Following the closure of the main vaccine centres, pop-up clinics have been held across Cavan in recent weeks.

The HSE says it is focused on “highlighting the importance of the second booster for over 65s and those who are immunocompromised”.