Clare TD Claims Sole Focus On Vaccine Is Misplaced

Clare’s Independent TD believes there is a danger that there could be too much of a focus on a COVID-19 vaccine, particularly if it will take some time for it to be rolled out.

It comes as the government is due to receive a report today on how Covid-19 vaccines will be distributed across the country, once they’re approved.

Michael McNamara believes rapid COVID-19 test should be made available to all, especially in the build-up to Christmas.

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A high-level taskforce is due to report to government today on how a vaccine would be rolled out once approved.

Its report will consider supply and storage issues, as well as who would administer the doses.

Nursing home residents, frontline healthcare workers and over 70s will be top of the priority list once a vaccine is approved and some people will be asked to self-register online for the jab.

HSE chief executive Paul Reid doesn’t believe healthcare workers should be forced to get a vaccine and he says highlighting the risks of NOT getting it should be the main strategy to drive uptake.

Clare’s Independent TD believes the focus of health officials and the public cannot be on a vaccine alone, given the length of time it could take to roll it out here.

Scariff Deputy Michael McNamara has called on the state to provide antigen testing kits to people to allow for COVID screening at home.

The Taoiseach has downplayed the suggestion, saying the use of antigen tests is being only considered within healthcare settings.

Deputy Michael McNamara says the rapid tests, if used as a precautionary measure, could help prevent the spread of the virus, though he insists it shouldn’t be used as a free pass.