Offaly Covid vaccination centre will not open this month
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THE Court Hotel in Tullamore is currently being fitted out as a vaccination centre and is due to open on May 3.
Appointments for people to attend the centre in Tullamore are expected to commence this week.
It will be one of 37 centres around the country and cater for large numbers of people.
Meanwhile, vaccinations of those aged 65-69 who have registered will begin this week in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise and Athlone Institute of Technology.
Councillor Sean O Brien has expressed his disappointment that the centre in Tullamore will not open until May.
All systems go at Laois Covid-19 vaccination centre in Portlaoise but don t be late
Midlands Park Hotel opens as vaccination centre for people aged 65-69
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Vaccinations of those aged 65-69 who have registered will begin this week in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise.
The vaccine is offered to people aged 65 to 69 is called COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca has been approved for use by both the EMA (European Medicines Agency) and NIAC (National Immunisation Advisory Committee), in keeping with the strictest standards of safety and quality.
Des O’Flynn is Chief Officer, Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare Organisation which is overseeing the clinic.
Vials of Covid-19 vaccine that were delivered to a nursing home have had to be discarded after they were incorrectly stored, HSE bosses have confirmed.
The Community Healthcare Organisation will now work with national colleagues to undertake the remaining vaccinations at the LTRC facility as soon as possible.
“We are very conscious that this is upsetting news for families, residents and staff members who are working hard to protect residents from Covid-19 and we are offering a range of supports to all concerned. The breach has been reported and all necessary processes will be followed,” it added.
There is published guidance on the use of the vaccine which outlines the medicines management responsibilities at local level, and to provide supporting guidance and resources.
It covers safe storage and distribution, including temperature controlled storage, safe handling, stock control, and stock reconciliation.
The Covid-19 vaccination roll-out, particularly to the over-70s, will suffer a serious setback as the HSE looks set to get only around 300,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine in February and March.