Questions Raised As To Whether Offaly Nursing Home Followed Vaccine Guidelines

Wednesday, 20 January 2021 at 16:03

A local councillor says any irregularities will damage confidence in the roll-out.

Questions are being raised as to whether Birr Community Nursing Unit adhered to vaccination guidelines.

Offaly councillor John Carroll says it was brought his attention that external doctors received vaccines against covid-19 last week, while public health nurses working inside the facility - who were scheduled to get the jab last week - did not.

In a statement to Midlands 103, the HSE says guidelines allow for GPs working in the area to be included on the list for vaccination in local nursing homes, and a small number of GPs, all of whom operate as fulltime/locums in the locality, were vaccinated as part of the rollout in Birr Nursing Home.

Councillor Carroll wants the health service to clarify the situation fully, adding the confidence in the system is in jeopardy:

Statement from the HSE:

All residents and staff at Birr Nursing Home who were able to receive the vaccine per national guidance did so over the two day period. As part of the vaccination programme, HSE guidelines allow for GPs working in the area to be included on the list for vaccination in local nursing homes. A small number of GPs, all of whom operate as fulltime/locums in the locality were vaccinated as part of the rollout in Birr Nursing Home per these guidelines.