Murphy: ‘Roll-out remains on track despite delays’
The Roscommon vaccination centre is expected to be up and running by early next week following delays caused by the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine last Sunday due to blood clot fears.
The vaccination centre at The Abbey Hotel in Roscommon town was due to open this week, but no confirmation has yet been forthcoming from the HSE.
THE HSE had earlier advised the public not to attend for an appointment for the AstraZeneca jab until further information was available about the resumption of its roll out. The European Medicines Agency is now expected to give the go ahead for its resumption by the end of this week.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil Senator Eugene Murphy insists the recent deferral of the AstraZeneca vaccine will not throw the entire vaccination programme off track.
“The decision to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over safety concerns in relation to blood clots has obviously caused huge concern amongst the public but I would reassure people that the vaccination programme will stay on track. I would be confident that there will be plenty of vaccines available by the summer and we are still on schedule in that regard,” he said.
The Fianna Fáil Senator urged members of the public to stay the course and to continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
“I would be hopeful that construction will re-open in April and consideration will be given to relaxing the 5km travel restrictions and I would also be hopeful that some level of sports training could also resume,” he said.
The Fianna Fáil Senator was also highly critical of the large gathering which had been witnessed at a funeral in Carrick-on-Shannonin recent days.
“There can’t be one rule for some members of society and another rule for others – we all need to be in this together and stay the course”.
Senator Murphy noted however that he would like to see the numbers attending funerals being increased to 25 as he said it was very difficult for grieving families to “pick and choose who could attend a small funeral”.
