Hundreds of people in the over 40 cohort queued from before 8am outside Covid-19 vaccination centres on Sunday morning.
Walk-in boosters will now be available for the first time for everyone over 40 in vaccination centres, GPs and pharmacies as the vaccine programme ramps up amid the threat of Omicron variant.
There are reports of significant tailbacks on the N7 ahead of the sliproad to the Citywestvaccination centre, the Swords roundabout by the National Show Centre in Dublin and reports of up to 500 people in queues at both of these venues.
The HSE said that the current waiting time at Citywest is now three hours.
Booster vaccinations for this age group had originally been intended to begin on December 27, but that has now been brought forward amid growing concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. HSE chief executive Paul Reid tweeted on Saturday: “We’re bringing forward the 40-49 ages for booster vaccines to now commence from tomorrow. “Please take the earliest opportunity to do so via Vaccination Centres (incl walk-ins), GPs (they will contact you) or contact your Pharmacy.”
On Sunday morning Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan tweeted: “Remember vaccines/boosters protect against severe disease. They keep people alive and out of hospital. True of Delta and will be true of Omicron. Get boosted as soon your turn comes.”
The HSE tweeted a full list of walk-in clinics open today open for booster vaccines for people aged over 40, healthcare workers as well as for those who have yet to receive dose 1 and 2.
Keep an eye on @hselive throughout the day for updates on on queueing times throughout the day.
Great to see! Best way to avoid any slow downs from missed/duplicate appointments
Up to 35% of the over 12s boosted now
People giving out about queues to get a free vaccine at a time where getting it done quickly in large quantities is the priority should be kept off the airwaves
My GP was doing them yesterday and it was one of the most efficient operations I’ve seen. Literally speed vaccination. I was in and out in under a minute.
I decided to queue yesterday in Greystones and from parking the car to getting back in the car probably took about an hour. They were really banging them out yesterday
A mate told me they were accepting 40+ yesterday so bolted in early and the whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. Waiving the 15 minute wait at the end is a great idea. They ask you if you had any reaction with your first round and if not say the 15 minute wait is optional. Nice little tweak the process that’ll allow people to pop in if they are stuck for time.
Read in the journal this morning that people were queueing for up to 3 hours? Sorry what. Surely that’s exaggerated.
A security guard at Cork City Hall said people were queueing from 6 am. I arrived at 7.45 am and was on my way home at 8.37 am.
I know people in their 30s that got their booster at a walk in centre this morning. Two hour queue tho
The boosters are open to anyone who’s over the 3 month period and hasn’t had Covid in 3 months either. Call your GP, call your pharmacy, ask around. I was in and out of the GP yesterday within 5 minutes, Booster and Flu jab.
Citywest had a tailback a few miles and 3 hour queue time after that. Well fucking worth it.
Lucky enough to be getting my booster from my GP during the week. It may be stupid but I’ll feel a little less anxious over Xmas. Not that I’ll be seeing many.
30 mins wait at Cork City Hall this afternoon.
Does anyone know what the craic is with walk ins during the week? Are there any or are they weekend only? Can’t seem to find any info on the HSE Twitter.
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It’s a shambles
In case you get hit by the paywall:
Hundreds of people in the over 40 cohort queued from before 8am outside Covid-19 vaccination centres on Sunday morning.
Walk-in boosters will now be available for the first time for everyone over 40 in vaccination centres, GPs and pharmacies as the vaccine programme ramps up amid the threat of Omicron variant.
There are reports of significant tailbacks on the N7 ahead of the sliproad to the Citywestvaccination centre, the Swords roundabout by the National Show Centre in Dublin and reports of up to 500 people in queues at both of these venues.
The HSE said that the current waiting time at Citywest is now three hours.
Booster vaccinations for this age group had originally been intended to begin on December 27, but that has now been brought forward amid growing concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. HSE chief executive Paul Reid tweeted on Saturday: “We’re bringing forward the 40-49 ages for booster vaccines to now commence from tomorrow. “Please take the earliest opportunity to do so via Vaccination Centres (incl walk-ins), GPs (they will contact you) or contact your Pharmacy.”
On Sunday morning Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan tweeted: “Remember vaccines/boosters protect against severe disease. They keep people alive and out of hospital. True of Delta and will be true of Omicron. Get boosted as soon your turn comes.”
The HSE tweeted a full list of walk-in clinics open today open for booster vaccines for people aged over 40, healthcare workers as well as for those who have yet to receive dose 1 and 2.
Keep an eye on @hselive throughout the day for updates on on queueing times throughout the day.
Great to see! Best way to avoid any slow downs from missed/duplicate appointments
Up to 35% of the over 12s boosted now
People giving out about queues to get a free vaccine at a time where getting it done quickly in large quantities is the priority should be kept off the airwaves
My GP was doing them yesterday and it was one of the most efficient operations I’ve seen. Literally speed vaccination. I was in and out in under a minute.
I decided to queue yesterday in Greystones and from parking the car to getting back in the car probably took about an hour. They were really banging them out yesterday
A mate told me they were accepting 40+ yesterday so bolted in early and the whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. Waiving the 15 minute wait at the end is a great idea. They ask you if you had any reaction with your first round and if not say the 15 minute wait is optional. Nice little tweak the process that’ll allow people to pop in if they are stuck for time.
Read in the journal this morning that people were queueing for up to 3 hours? Sorry what. Surely that’s exaggerated.
A security guard at Cork City Hall said people were queueing from 6 am. I arrived at 7.45 am and was on my way home at 8.37 am.
I know people in their 30s that got their booster at a walk in centre this morning. Two hour queue tho
The boosters are open to anyone who’s over the 3 month period and hasn’t had Covid in 3 months either. Call your GP, call your pharmacy, ask around. I was in and out of the GP yesterday within 5 minutes, Booster and Flu jab.
Citywest had a tailback a few miles and 3 hour queue time after that. Well fucking worth it.
Lucky enough to be getting my booster from my GP during the week. It may be stupid but I’ll feel a little less anxious over Xmas. Not that I’ll be seeing many.
30 mins wait at Cork City Hall this afternoon.
Does anyone know what the craic is with walk ins during the week? Are there any or are they weekend only? Can’t seem to find any info on the HSE Twitter.