Renewed call for Covid vaccination hubs in rural Mayo communities

A renewed call has been issued for Covid-19 vaccination hubs in rural communities across Mayo - most notably the Erris area which has been hardest hit by the pandemic.

The appeal has come from Deputy Dara Calleary.

He stated: "There needs to be a greater roll-out and greater availability of vaccine at the centre in Erris, which, unfortunately, has suffered so much Covid-related trauma in the past number of months, and also in Ballina and in east Mayo.

"There continues to be difficulties around the logistics of the delivery of vaccines, even for the over 85 cohort in which we are so progressed at this stage.

"GPs are still contacting me saying it is impossible to get information as to when they will get their schedule, which is due to be delivered next Friday.

"There are lessons to be learned from the past three weeks in terms of that roll-out for the bigger roll-out.

"I hope that the Department takes the chance to roll those out and to work with the various supply chains so that they are resolved and that information is given.

"Huge store is being placed on the vaccination programme and we all wish it success.

"However, it must work on the basis of building confidence, which, in fairness, has been done so far. We need to build confidence also in the logistics."

Earlier this week Erris GP Dr. Keith Swanick outlined how he and a neighbouring GP received no vaccines - but another neighbouring GP received 420 vaccines. . .despite having only 45 to 50 patients aged over 85

Speaking more generally about Covid-19, Deputy Calleary said people are in a very dark place.

He elaborated: "The last number of weeks have been difficult for everyone. I welcome the extra resources allocated for mental health services.

"It is important that those resources are spent and made available in communities around the country."

He stated the role of family carers in guarding against illness and doing unrecognised work to protect the health service needs to be reflected in the vaccine roll-out.