The HSE has confirmed it is examining other ‘satellite centres’ for vaccinating people against Covid-19 in Co Donegal.
There was serious concern recently when it was revealed that Letterkenny Institute of Technology was the ONLY designated centre for the roll-out of the vaccine in Donegal.
Now councillor Albert Doherty has been told that other centres may open up both in Inishowen and also in south Donegal.
It follows a question on the issue by the Sinn Fein councillor at today’s meeting of the Western Regional Health Forum.
No specific locations in the county were revealed.
Chief officer of HSE, John Hayes revealed “The identified large vaccination site for Donegal is Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) – this facility is currently undergoing fit-out and should be completed shortly.
“Other satellite sites across the County are under consideration i.e. Inishowen, North West and West/South Donegal.”
Councillor Doherty specifically referred to Carndonagh GAA Club who had offered their services as a centre to roll-out the vaccine locally in Inishowen.
He also referred to the roles of retired nurses as well as current dentists and pharmacists whom he said had a role to play in the vaccine roll-out.
Mr Hayes replied that there could be a number of pop-up or mobile services and this has not been ruled that out at this stage.
He said the safe roll-out of the vaccine programme will be delivered in a number of phases depending on the availability of vaccines.
“As vaccine availability increases and a greater number of cohorts become eligible to access the vaccine, the delivery model (the locations and workforce) will transition to support a larger volume of vaccinations.
“In the initial phase, vaccinations are being delivered to prioritised groups in long term care settings.
“As the availability of vaccines increases, additional groups from the National Vaccine Allocation Framework will receive their vaccinations.”
The vaccine is currently being rolled out to the following key groups:
Residents (aged over 65 years) across Older Persons, Mental Health and Disability Residential Services – Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
Priority Groups i.e. residents living in non designated settings i.e. supported living, where they live in groups of 6 or more sharing bathroom and living areas (Pfizer/BioNtech)
Over 70 population via GPs with the initial focus starting this week being the over 85 age group (Pfizer/BioNtech)
Healthcare Workers (public, community and voluntary/section 38&39 agencies and private) as per HSE sequencing priorities (Astra Zeneca/Pfizer BioNtech)
Across the CHO 1 area, we are working in collaboration with colleagues in both Saolta and RCSI Hospital Groups, 9,296 vaccines have been administered to residents and staff across 54 Older Persons Residential Care Facilities and geographically based Vaccination Hubs between the 7th Jan to 10th Feb 2021.
These hubs vaccinated residents aged over 65 years living in Supervised Residential Units/Continuing Care, Mental Health and Disability residential units. The second dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine continues to be administered in Older Persons Residential facilities with the remaining residents and staff being scheduled for their second dose of vaccine before the end of February and this will complete the vaccination of our most vulnerable and at risk population.
The national vaccination plan includes the delivery of large vaccination centres and county based vaccination centres. This service will require a significant workforce to deliver vaccinations to the population under 70 years and recruitment is currently underway.
The identified large vaccination site for Donegal is Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) – this facility is currently undergoing fit out and should be completed shortly. Other satellite sites across the County are under consideration i.e. Inishowen, North West and West/South Donegal.
These smaller vaccination centres can be set up to vaccinate priority groups. The vaccination programme is a unique partnership between the HSE, GPs, local pharmacists and local communities.
The National Allocations Strategy was published by the Government in early December 2020 and prioritises those over the age of 65 living in long-term care facilities, frontline healthcare workers who are in direct patient contact and those aged 70 and over.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy was based on a Department of Health and National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) paper. It sets out the provisional priority list of groups for vaccination.
In addition, Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE, has issued guidance on the sequencing of vaccination for all Healthcare Workers which includes public and HSE funded organisations, private hospitals, clinics and community based not-for-profit and private healthcare providers not directly funded by the HSE. Sequencing is based on the type of work and the setting in which this work takes place and maintaining a safe level of health and social care services.
The sequencing document lists the settings from 2(a)-2(g). Dentists are included in 2 (c) Healthcare workers who deal with unscheduled care patients/service users in a semi-controlled environment on a regular basis. These are HCWs who mainly see patients/service users by appointment but who may from time to time need to see urgent unscheduled patients/service users
• Urgent care facility clinical staff.
• GP practice staff – GPs/Practice Nurses
• Dentists and dental nurses providing urgent dental care.
Healthcare workers are invited to register on the HSE registration portal and following this they are they scheduled for vaccination as per the Dr Colm Henry, HSE, Sequencing document.
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Letterkenny Test Centre was “Purpose built for the population of the Letterkenny AND Inishowen network areas.”
Will the HSE ensure that a significant number of Covid -19 vaccination centres are located in the peninsula and furthermore ensure that all vaccine resource supports available including pharmacists, dentists et al and their staff members are vaccinated?
Will the HSE also confirm that this complement of health service providers can assist GPs and engage in an efficient and comprehensive Covid -19 roll out of the vaccine?
Covid -19 testing centres In Inishowen were deemed unnecessary by the HSE as the
Cllr A Doherty
The safe roll out of the vaccine programme will be delivered in a number of phases depending on the availability of vaccines.
As vaccine availability increases and a greater number of cohorts become eligible to access the vaccine, the delivery model (the locations and workforce) will transition to support a larger volume of vaccinations.
In the initial phase, vaccinations are being delivered to prioritised groups in long term care settings.
As the availability of vaccines increases, additional groups from the National Vaccine Allocation Framework will receive their vaccinations.
The vaccine is currently being rolled out to the following key groups:
Residents (aged over 65 years) across Older Persons, Mental Health and Disability Residential Services – Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
Priority Groups i.e. residents living in non designated settings i.e. supported living, where they live in groups of 6 or more sharing bathroom and living areas (Pfizer/BioNtech)
Over 70 population via GPs with the initial focus starting this week being the over 85 age group (Pfizer/BioNtech)
Healthcare Workers (public, community and voluntary/section 38&39 agencies and private) as per HSE sequencing priorities (Astra Zeneca/Pfizer BioNtech)
Across the CHO 1 area, we are working in collaboration with colleagues in both Saolta and RCSI Hospital Groups, 9,296 vaccines have been administered to residents and staff across 54 Older Persons Residential Care Facilities and geographically based Vaccination Hubs between the 7th Jan to 10th Feb 2021.
These hubs vaccinated residents aged over 65 years living in Supervised Residential Units/Continuing Care, Mental Health and Disability residential units. The second dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine continues to be administered in Older Persons Residential facilities with the remaining residents and staff being scheduled for their second dose of vaccine before the end of February and this will complete the vaccination of our most vulnerable and at risk population.
The national vaccination plan includes the delivery of large vaccination centres and county based vaccination centres. This service will require a significant workforce to deliver vaccinations to the population under 70 years and recruitment is currently underway.
The identified large vaccination site for Donegal is Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) – this facility is currently undergoing fit out and should be completed shortly. Other satellite sites across the County are under consideration i.e. Inishowen, North West and West/South Donegal.
These smaller vaccination centres can be set up to vaccinate priority groups. The vaccination programme is a unique partnership between the HSE, GPs, local pharmacists and local communities.
The National Allocations Strategy was published by the Government in early December 2020 and prioritises those over the age of 65 living in long-term care facilities, frontline healthcare workers who are in direct patient contact and those aged 70 and over.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy was based on a Department of Health and National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) paper. It sets out the provisional priority list of groups for vaccination.
In addition, Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE, has issued guidance on the sequencing of vaccination for all Healthcare Workers which includes public and HSE funded organisations, private hospitals, clinics and community based not-for-profit and private healthcare providers not directly funded by the HSE. Sequencing is based on the type of work and the setting in which this work takes place and maintaining a safe level of health and social care services.
The sequencing document lists the settings from 2(a)-2(g). Dentists are included in 2 (c) Healthcare workers who deal with unscheduled care patients/service users in a semi-controlled environment on a regular basis. These are HCWs who mainly see patients/service users by appointment but who may from time to time need to see urgent unscheduled patients/service users
• Urgent care facility clinical staff.
• GP practice staff – GPs/Practice Nurses
• Dentists and dental nurses providing urgent dental care.
Healthcare workers are invited to register on the HSE registration portal and following this they are they scheduled for vaccination as per the Dr Colm Henry, HSE, Sequencing document.
John Hayes, Chief Officer, CHO1
