Local health officials are warning people across Clare and the Midwest not to let their guard down in the battle against COVID-19.
It comes as Britain has confirmed they will begin vaccinations across the UK next week.
The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for widespread use, in a move which the government there says can bring people ‘out of the crisis’ by Spring.
People in nursing homes, those over the age of 80 and healthcare workers will be the first to receive the vaccine.
Ireland will have to wait a number of weeks for the approval of this vaccine as we follow the guidelines of the European Medicines Agency.
It plans to convene a meeting on December 29th, with a vaccine possibly being approved for EU use after that.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says we’ll have to be patient.
A prominent Ennis GP, agrees that we should see the first people vaccinated here next month.
Dr Maire Finn says GPs across Clare and elsewhere will want to be a key part of the vaccination process.
Despite the optimism surrounding today’s announcement, local health officials are continuing to remind people across this region to remain vigilant.
Six new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Clare yesterday, continuing recent low levels of COVID here.
However, the HSE’s Midwest Director of Public Health, Dr Mai Mannix, says people need to remain vigilant as Christmas draws ever closer.
