Clare’s Fianna Fáil Senator has expressed hope that the suspension of the roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine won’t slow down the easing of restrictions next month.
30,000 people won’t receive the jab this week after the vaccine was temporarily suspended over concerns about blood clots.
Around one in five of the vaccine doses given in Ireland so far have been the Astrazeneca formula, and hundreds of thousands of doses of the jab are due here over the coming months.
It was supposed to play a much bigger share from this week, as the vaccination of the medically vulnerable ramped up.
The HSE was planning to give 80-thousand doses but now that’s been cut back to 50-thousand, with only appointments for those due to receive a Pfizer or Moderna dose from their GP still going ahead.
The doctors leading Ireland’s vaccine drive say the suspension is just “precautionary” as the European Medicines Agency investigates reports of blood clots.
The pharma company says there’s no evidence its product is the cause and that such conditions have actually occurred at a lower rate among some 17 million people vaccinated with it.
The Health Minister has reassured that vaccine teams will make up for lost time, if the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine gets the all-clear again later this week.
Immunologist Luke O’Neill has described the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine as disappointing and disturbing and says he doesn’t believe there are concerns over its safety.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil Senator has commended the Goverment for acting quickly and decisively once concerns arose, saying he hopes the suspension will ultimately shore up public confidence in the vaccine programme.
Timmy Dooley is also hopeful this won’t slow down the easing of restrictions next month.
