Irish Independent he is known for his “professionalism and courtesy”.
Over the next three days, medical staff worked meticulously taking five, sometimes six or seven doses, from each vial, mixing it with sodium chloride. Each dose was checked twice. In an interview with RTÉ, Prof O Connell explained that it has to be used within two hours once the vaccine is made up.
Up to 50 people were vaccinated an hour, with five or six vaccinators working in rotation.
By Friday night, all 1,100 staff had received the first dose of the vaccine, a major hospital achievement.
It must have felt like a momentous moment for Prof O’Connell too, who began his seven-year term as master of the hospital on New Year’s Day in 2020.
Coombe board to discuss giving of Covid-19 vaccine to 16 family members of staff Stephen Donnelly spoke to hospital chairman about controversy about leftover doses
Mon, Jan 18, 2021, 11:54 Updated: Mon, Jan 18, 2021, 13:38
The board of directors of the Coombe Hospital is to discuss the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine to 16 family members of staff a meeting later on Monday.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly spoke to chairwoman of the Dublin maternity hospital’s board Mary Donovan about the controversy on Monday afternoon.
“Minister Donnelly has spoken with the chair of the board of the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital Dublin. The Minister understands the board will discuss the matter further later today,” a spokesman for the Minister said.
Ministers in Ireland have asked for an investigation after spare COVID-19 vaccines were given to some relatives of staff at a Dublin maternity hospital.