skip to main content

Outgoing NI head thanks health staff and public

Patricia Donnelly, head of Northern Ireland's Covid vaccination programme is stepping down from her role after 18 months (file image)
Patricia Donnelly, head of Northern Ireland's Covid vaccination programme is stepping down from her role after 18 months (file image)

The outgoing head of Northern Ireland's Covid-19 vaccination programme has thanked everyone involved in delivering more than 3.7 million jabs.

Patricia Donnelly is stepping down from her role after 18 months.

Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann thanked Ms Donnelly for her efforts.

Ms Donnelly described the Covid-19 vaccination programme as having required a "super-human effort from all involved".

"From getting the vaccine to the right place, giving jabs in vaccination centres, pharmacies and GP practices, or making sure people know where and when to go for a vaccine," she said.

"To the teams of vaccinators, administrative staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past 18 months - thank you.

Ms Donnelly encourage everyone 'who is eligible for their booster to get it without delay'

Ms Donnelly described their commitment and dedication as "truly remarkable".

"This was a team effort and it has been a huge honour to be involved," she added.

Ms Donnelly also thanked the public for coming forward to receive the vaccine.

However, she warned the virus has not yet gone away and urged all over the age of 75 and the vulnerable to come forward for their spring booster jab.

"I would again encourage everyone who is eligible for their booster to get it without delay," she said.

"Vaccination clinics are still running across Northern Ireland and people are still coming forward for boosters as well as first and second doses. It's not too late to get protected."

Meanwhile, a further 28 deaths linked to Covid-19 have been recorded in Northern Ireland in the latest weekly update.

The toll is up three on the 25 deaths that occurred in the previous week, according to data compiled by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).

The latest deaths, which occurred in the week ending 25 March, take the total number of coronavirus-linked fatalities recorded by Nisra to 4,435.

The Nisra figure is drawn from different data sources and is always higher than the Department of Health's total as it provides a broader picture of the impact of Covid-19.

On 25 March, the department had reported 3,302 deaths.

The department's statistics focus primarily on hospital deaths and only include people who have tested positive for the virus.

Nisra obtains its data from death certificates on which Covid-19 is recorded as a factor by a medical professional, regardless of where the death took place or whether the patient tested positive.

The statistics agency reports its Covid data with a lag of a week.

The Nisra figure includes 3,082 deaths in hospital, 953 in care homes, and 400 at residential addresses, hospices or other locations.