Health Minister acknowledges need for extra Mayo vaccination centres

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has acknowledged the need for additional Covid vaccination centres in Mayo.

He confirmed the HSE has been asked to give consideration to the matter.

"Obviously, we would prefer that people who may be very vulnerable would not need to make a 2.5-hour round trip (to the centre in Breaffy, Castlebar)," the minister told Mayo TD Dara Calleary.

Deputy Calleary said the minister previously assured him those signing up for the vaccine would be given a choice of either a vaccination centre or their local GP or pharmacist.

"Now, when one goes on the portal, one is assigned to the vaccination centre.

"In County Mayo that currently means a round trip of at least two and a half hours if a person is coming from Erris or a two-hour round trip if he or she is coming from Ballina.

"If we are sending people to vaccination centres then we need extra centres in Erris and Ballina in order to ensure people will keep their appointments," added Deputy Calleary.