Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that "brighter days" are ahead as the HSE confirmed that one million people have now received their first vaccine dose.
This milestone was confirmed by the HSE, who also promised between 180,000/190,000 vaccines next week as part of the rollout's ramp up.
Asked whether Ireland will hit 250,000 vaccines from next week, the HSE CEO, Paul Reid said that it is likelier to hit that target from the end of this month/start of May.
He said, “Certainly not next week. Based on how the forecasts are looking at the minute, it’s a bit bumpy. But again the taskforce is still trying to firm up the dates from all the suppliers".
The HSE also confirmed that the number of hospital admissions have fallen from 20-25 per day to just 13. The number of people entering ICU has fallen to just one or two people per day.
Paul Reid also referred to the scandal involving vaccines being administered to non-frontline staff. He accepted that it was "only right" that the vaccine rollout fall under "significant public scruitiny".
“I fully acknowledge that there have been many learnings. We have had to make changes. We have had to take some issues on the chin", Reid said.
Reid also added, “We have had to acknowledge when they have happened, and we will continue to do so. We are not alone. Much of the literature from the ECDC shows shared experiences with other EU countries”.
Meanwhile, Dr Colm Henry also insisted that the benefits of taking the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the potential side effects.
He said at a press briefing, "There are no vaccines that don’t have side effects. “What would I say to somebody who’s worried about this? Well, I understand the worry first of all". We’re dealing with a virus which is very contagious, it causes severe illness, hospitalisation and death in all age groups, no age group is excluded".
Dr Henry also added, “When you look at a vaccine, you balance the benefits against the risks". It’s clear the benefits greatly favour the vaccine”.
The HSE also came under scruitiny after a letter was sent to a woman for her vaccine appointment next week, despite the fact that she passed away in 2012. More here.
