“It often spreads in young people first and that’s not pointing the finger in a particular direction.”
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan has said his recent advice for young people to reduce their social contacts was “not pointing the finger in a particular direction”.
On Tuesday (21 December), the CMO said that NPHET continues to see Covid-19 incidence rising in Ireland’s young adult population.
Due to this, he recommended “all parents, guardians and extended friends and family to support the young people in your lives to reduce their contacts”.
“This week, try and only meet with the people with whom you will spend Christmas Day. Keep your contacts as low as possible in order to protect those around you,” he also said.
Appearing on Today with Claire Byrne, the CMO stated it gave him no pleasure to issue the advice but added that Ireland is facing a “very significant surge of infection” and that NPHET can already see a “very rapidly rising rate” of Covid incidence between the ages of 16-34.
“It often spreads in young people first and that’s not pointing the finger in a particular direction,” he told the show.
“It’s simply making the epidemiological point that that’s how the infection spreads and gets transmitted so easily.”
He added that on top of this the new Omicron variant also has a growth advantage, citing its ability to be “able to escape from some of the protection that’s afforded by vaccination or by having previously had an infection”.
The CMO was then asked if it was fair to ask young people to make such an exceptional sacrifice and not allow them the option of a booster.
“Most of the time that we’ve had public health recommendations in place, they have been selectively targeted towards younger people because the kinds of activities that we all as young people would have enjoyed or wished to enjoy… are things unfortunately that give the virus too much of an advantage to spread,” he replied.
“The virus doesn’t discriminate… That’s the reason behind the advice. It’s not about seeking to be fair or unfair.
“It’s simply factually, that’s what the evidence will tell us about the risks of transmission.”
He then said the HSE is now stepping up the volume of boosters being rolled out and is encouraging the public to come forward for them.
“They’re rolling those out on the prioritised basis as advised by NIAC,” he added.
“That prioritisation largely reflects – we do those people whose risks of a severe infection are greatest first.”
Main image via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
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