Hundreds of people who were due to receive their Covid-19 jab at a Clare vaccination centre today will see their appointment deferred.
The HSE has written to Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations to advise that all AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics planned for today should be cancelled in light of updated advice from health officials.
All AstraZeneca vaccination clinics due to take place today have been cancelled, following updated guidance from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and the Department of Health.
It follows concerns over potential links between the vaccine and very rare blood clots.
Around 600 vaccinations due to take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Clare’s border with Limerick will now be deferred.
Those who were due to receive the jab there today are now being contacted directly to re-arrange their appointment.
The Acting Chief Medical Officer says limiting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to over 60s “will likely have an impact” on the country’s vaccine programme, but that its extent “remains to be seen”.
Dr. Ronan Glynn says it’ll take a number of days to calculate the impact of the decision on the country’s vaccine programme.
The move could also impact the opening of Clare’s main vaccination centre, which was due to open in just under two weeks time.
In a briefing at the monthly meeting of Clare County Council last evening, Councillors were told that the centre at Treacy’s West County Hotel in Ennis would be operational on April 26th, with 20 booth capacities.
This was prior to the decision by the HSE to cancel today’s appointments.
Meanwhile, the head of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee says people in their 60s won’t have a choice of which Covid vaccine they get.
But Professor Karina Butler says those offered AstraZeneca in the coming weeks should understand it is safe and effective.
