Covid-19 vaccinations are well underway at Letterkenny University Hospital, where 180 staff are off duty due to the virus.
As of yesterday evening, the hospital was ‘extremely busy’ with a large number of staff off due to the virus. A total of 180 staff members have been identified as either Covid-19 positive, symptomatic staff, staff who are close contacts of a positive case, and staff who are cocooning because they are considered in an at-risk category.
Meanwhile, the hospital is treating approx 51 patients with Covid-19, four of which are critical.
The roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign was widely welcomed on Wednesday. Lorraine Guthrie, Clinical Nurse Manager 2 from Medical 5 was the first staff member in the hospital to receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.
Over 500 staff will be vaccinated at Letterkenny University Hospital before the end of the week.
Lorraine was the first person in the county to receive the vaccine, which was administered by her nursing colleague Virginia Murray.
Lorraine Guthrie, Clinical Nurse Manager 2 from Medical 5 was the first staff member to receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine with Virginia Murray, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Medical 5 at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Commenting, Lorraine Guthrie said “I am delighted to get this vaccine today which will offer protection from COVID-19 and from the serious complications it can cause. I have worked in LUH for over 17 years and am currently working in Medical 5. We have seen the devastating effect of this infection on our patients and their families and 2020 was a really difficult year for everyone working in the health services. As we begin a new year, it is really positive to see the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.”
Seán Murphy, Hospital Manager at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) said, “Everyone in LUH is delighted to see the commencement of this vaccination programme here on site today. Our plan is provide the vaccine in the first instance to those staff directly providing care to confirmed and suspect COVID-19 cases including ICU, the Emergency Department/RRU and the Red zone wards – Medical 2, 3 and 4. Over the course of next week and beyond, this will be extended to all staff in the hospital.”
Dr Anne Drake, the Director of Nursing at Letterkenny University Hospitals whose team is delivering the COVID-19 vaccine campaign across the hospital said yesterday, “2020 has been a very difficult year for everyone including health care staff. Today is a really positive day and I want to thank our peer vaccination team here in LUH for their commitment to rolling out this essential vaccine. This vaccine will be provided via 2 doses. Information will be provided to each person who receives the vaccine explaining the process to them, including the requirement to receive a second dose of this vaccine in 3 weeks. While the vaccine is not mandatory, it is recommended that everyone gets the vaccine when it is offered to them. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine should protect from the serious complications of COVID-19 and reduce the illness and deaths caused by this virus.”
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