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Age-based vaccine programme will deliver ‘for greater good’, HSE chief says
Paul Reid said the scientific evidence behind the Government decision is ‘very clear and very strong’.
The move to an age-based system for the Covid-19 vaccination programme will “ultimately deliver for the greater good for everybody”, the head of Ireland’s health service has said.
Paul Reid welcomed the changes to the programme announced by the Government earlier this week, saying age is a “major risk” for severe illness with the virus.
“The scientific evidence behind the decision is very clear and very strong,” Mr Reid told the weekly HSE coronavirus briefing.
“Age is the major risk factor for severe illness with Covid-19 and this is why the change has been recommended and made.”
I would urge everybody to plan their Easter break in a very safe mannerHSE chief executive Paul Reid
He added that the move will give the HSE greater clarity in planning for the months ahead.
“I think ultimately it will deliver for the greater good for everybody,” he said.
The HSE chief executive said he was looking ahead to April, May and June with a “fine balance of caution and optimism” but appealed to people to plan their Easter break safely.
“Our concern remains that if were to enter a fourth wave we would be doing so on a high base of hospitalisations,” he said.
Mr Reid added that the number of people in intensive care units at present is “too high” to safely cope with any increased level of transmissions.
“I would urge everybody to plan their Easter break in a very safe manner,” he said.
“We all have real experience of when society decides to take a temporary break from public health measures. We know the impacts are hugely disproportionate.
“It has very significant consequences for sickness, hospitalisations, ICU and mortality.
“It’s too high a price for everybody to pay for right now for where we are at.”
He said the HSE had achieve a milestone of administering more than 120,000 vaccine doses last week.
He added that as of March 31, almost 820,000 doses had been administered, with more than 600,000 being first doses.
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