Coronavirus UPDATE: Number of Covid-19 patients in public hospitals continues to fall By Ruth O Connell Forsa which represents Special Needs Assistants will discuss the change to the vaccine priority list later today.
The number of patients with Covid-19 in public hospitals here has continued to fall, and has reached its lowest point in 111 days.
The latest data from the National Public Health Emergency team shows 400 more people have contracted the virus and seven more patients with it have died.
The five-day average for new infections in the Republic is down 23 per cent since last week.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn says previous calls by lobbyists for a faster reopening has had a direct impact on the health system.
Education Correspondent
Teachers and Special Needs Assistants working in a number of special schools in the Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire and Dublin South East areas received vaccinations yesterday from the HSE.
The teachers were first contacted about vaccination appointments last Wednesday, a day after the Government announced a change to the vaccination roll-out schedule.
The change meant teachers and SNAs would no longer be prioritised for vaccination and was greeted with outcry and shock from their trade unions.
RTÉ News has learned that last Wednesday a number of special schools in the CHO6 HSE area, which covers Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire and Dublin South East, were contacted and asked to supply lists of staff for vaccination by the following afternoon.
Teachers and SNAs incorrectly given Covid vaccines due to reserve list error – Donnelly
Teachers and SNAs in Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South East received vaccines yesterday. By Céimin Burke Wednesday 7 Apr 2021, 4:23 PM 6 hours ago 45,274 Views 101 Comments
A FAILURE TO follow vaccination reserve list protocols led to teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in a number of special needs schools in Dublin and Wicklow receiving Covid-19 vaccinations yesterday, according to the Minister for Health.
Stephen Donnelly said the Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) covering the Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South East area had incorrectly included special needs assistants on its reserve list.
A union representative said many risk passing Covid-19 on to vulnerable students. By Nicky Ryan Monday 5 Apr 2021, 2:39 PM Apr 5th 2021, 2:39 PM 24,645 Views 39 Comments
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HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE facing calls to vaccinate special needs assistants (SNAs) as a priority group.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike said that many SNAs fear contracting Covid-19 in the community and bringing it into a school setting.
“They work with very vulnerable students who are at risk if they themselves contract Covid-19,” he said.
“The decision means that many thousands of them will now be waiting longer, in some cases many many weeks longer, to receive the vaccine.”
Special needs assistants need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as possible, says union Home quarantine among compromises to be discussed by Ministers
about 8 hours ago
The union representing Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), Forsa, has called on Government to ensure its members are vaccinated as soon as possible.
The union is unhappy that the vaccine rollout plan has been changed to one based primarily on age rather than occupation.
Andy Pike, head of the union’s education division, told RTÉ news on Monday: “Many of them will be working alongside healthcare staff, for instance in our special schools, where the nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists have all been vaccinated under the HSE rollout yet the SNAs working alongside them day to day will not be vaccinated.