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5 things we learned from the latest HSE briefing

Updated / Thursday, 16 Dec 2021 16:20

GPs are offering boosters - but don't contact them

People will receive an appointment for a booster vaccination from either the HSE or their GP, and should take the first one they are offered, HSE chief executive Paul Reid has said.

However, he said people should not and don't need to contact their GP or the HSE to make an appointment.

Mr Reid also said that in the interest of vaccinating people as quickly as possible, people can also attend a walk-in clinic if they fit into the cohort currently being vaccinated.

He added that people can also get vaccinated through some pharmacies that are taking part in the vaccination programme.

A list of walk-in clinics can be found here and a list of participating pharmacies can be found here.

'No evidence' of further contamination after Coombe attack

The Chief Executive of the HSE has said there is no evidence of further contamination to the health service's wider IT network following a cyber attack on the Coombe hospital.

The IT systems at the Dublin maternity hospital have been locked down as an investigation begins into an overnight cyber attack.

Speaking at the HSE briefing this afternoon, Mr Reid said the attack has been contained.

'Emerging concern' about Omicron

Dr Colm Henry has said that there is an "emerging concern" about the Omicron variant of Covid-19, which now represents 27% of cases in Ireland.

He said that this is based on the evidence that is "all pointing towards a variant that is going to rapidly displace Delta", which is currently the most prevalent variant.

Dr Henry said that in the UK the proportion of cases now attributed to Omicron is "probably tipping over 50%".

He also said the emerging trend is that the impact of the vaccines and their ability to induce an immune response with Omicron is "greatly hindered".

He said that this is especially the AstraZeneca vaccine, adding that "it failed to considerable levels after four months."

The reduction in vaccine effectiveness was less with Pfizer, he added.

Vaccination of children aged 5-11 'strongly recommended'

The Director of Public Health at the HSE's National Immunisation Office has said the National Immunisation Advisory Committee "very strongly recommends" the vaccine for children aged five to 11, who have underlying conditions, who are living with a younger child with complex medical needs, or who are living with someone who is immunocompromised.

Dr Lucy Jessop said that the list of chronic conditions includes "chronic lung diseases, liver, heart diseases, neurological diseases, cancer, sickle cell disease, obesity, children who are immunocompromised or may have intellectual disabilities, or diabetes," but added the list is longer than this.

"Parents obviously know that children best so if parents feel their children fit into any of these categories", NIAC would strongly recommend that they consider vaccinating their children if they are aged 5 - 11, she said.

NIAC also recommends that all other children in the second priority group should be offered a chance to be vaccinated because of the "favourable benefit risk profile of the vaccine" to protect them from severe disease and the consequences that can follow on from having Covid-19.

She said that this second priority group should be offered in line with those under the age of 40.

Unvaccinated disproportionately represented in hospitals

People who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 are disproportionately represented in hospitals, according to the HSE's Chief Clinical Officer.

Dr Colm Henry said that unvaccinated people account for almost 45% of admissions to intensive care units, despite making up a far smaller proportion of the overall population.

He added while that no vaccine provides 100% protection against ICU admission, people who are fully vaccinated have "huge protection".

People who aren't vaccinated do not have this protection against serious illness, he said.

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