MANY hotels across Northern Ireland are fully booked on their first weekend of reopening this year with concerns about an influx of visitors from the Republic where coronavirus restrictions remain. The north took major steps out of lockdown on Monday after.
Adults aged 18 and over can now receive a Covid-19 vaccine.
Bookings opened from 8am today, 27 May.
Vaccine supplies remain limited and as a result there will be approximately 20,000 slots available for booking on Thursday morning.
Health Minister Robin Swann said: I am delighted that our vaccination programme is now open to all adults in Northern Ireland. I know this will be very welcome news for young people who have been waiting patiently for their turn to get the jab. Today s announcement is another important milestone in the drive to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can, so that we can see a return to normality.
More than one million people have now had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine – over 70% of our adult population – and more than 625,000 (over 40%) have received two doses.
Opening the booking system to all adults is another important milestone in the vaccination programme, which was launched less than six months ago.
Health Minister Robin Swann explains, “I am delighted that our vaccination programme is now open to all adults in Northern Ireland.
“I know this will be very welcome news for young people who have been waiting patiently for their turn to get the jab.
“Today’s announcement is another important milestone in the drive to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can so that we can see a return to normality.
In the first three months of this year, SVP received more than 200 calls every week from individuals and families struggling to make ends meet on a reduced or inadequate income.
Mary Waide, SVP Regional President, said, “To continue to support those who seek our help we need the kindness of the public who have responded generously in the past.
“We need that generosity now more than ever.
“People across the country who have lost their businesses and lost their livelihoods have reached the end of their tether and are calling SVP for the first time.
“In addition to that those who we may have supported in the past but were now standing on their own two feet have been completely knocked to the floor again by this pandemic.