Beacon Hospital says decision to vaccinate teachers at private school was “incorrect” but “made in good faith”

Clara Kelly

The vaccinators believed that if not administered within an hour, the vaccine became “gloopy” and could be “painful” for recipients.

The Beacon Hospital has said that a decision taken earlier this year to vaccinate teachers at St.Gerard’s private school in Bray with “left-over” vaccines was “incorrect” but “made in good faith”.

On Monday, the hospital published findings of an independent review, commissioned in March, into the operation of the Vaccination Clinic after it was revealed that vaccines were administered to teachers at the school, where the children of Beacon Hospital CEO Michael Cullen attend.

The completed review, which was undertaken by Eugene McCague, former Managing Partner and Chairman of Arthur Cox and former Board member of the HSE, found that the decision to vaccinate the teachers was not in line with National Vaccine priority list and did not have HSE approval.

The review also found that there was an “incorrect interpretation of the discretion available” to the Beacon Hospital to make decisions that would avoid any vaccine doses going to waste.

It found that the only option available which would have complied with the requirements of the Vaccine Priority List was to administer the drawn vaccines to health care workers, adding that “significant efforts” were made to locate staff on the Beacon Campus before the teachers were called.

The review added that the decision to pierce the vials which led to the excess doses was “done in good faith” and “in accordance with previous practice in the mistaken belief as to the final check-in time for the clinic that day”.

However, due to a number of “no-shows”, the clinic was left with 20 doses which they believed would be wasted if clients were not located due to the belief of vaccinators that after an hour or so, the vaccine became “gloopy” and and could be “painful” to the recipient.

The Hospital said on Monday that “notwithstanding the matter regarding the use of 20 surplus vaccine doses on 23 March”, the Vaccination Clinic was operated to the “highest standards of corporate and clinical governance”.

“At no cost to the State, more than 9,000 public health care workers were vaccinated in an efficient and effective manner,” the statement added.

“The Board of the Beacon Hospital is proud of the work undertaken, on a voluntary basis, by the staff at Beacon Hospital and of the contribution that this work and the use of the vaccination clinic has made to the overall public health system.”

“We as a Board, regret that this series of events happened, and apologise for the upset caused. However, having considered the detailed Review and the Findings of the Independent Reviewer, the Board has determined that it retains full confidence in Michael Cullen, our CEO.

“Michael has provided the hospital with strong leadership and vision resulting in substantial growth and expansion of patient services. We are confident that Beacon Hospital will continue to provide exceptional patient care into the future under his guidance.”

At the time details of the decision to vaccinate the teachers was made public, the Beacon Hospital said that it was made “under time pressure”.

Michael Cullen apologised for any upset the decision caused at the time and said plans are being drawn up so this does not happen again.

He said: “I recognise that the decision that was made was not in line with the sequencing guidelines in place from the HSE, however, it was made under time pressure and with a view to ensuring that the vaccine did not go to waste.

“I sincerely apologise for the upset that this decision has caused and we are updating our approach to our back up list to ensure that this situation does not arise again.”

It was subsequently also revealed that the Chief Executive of the VHI stepped aside from his position after it was revealed he received a Covid-19 vaccine at the Beacon.

In a statement at the time, the VHI said: “The Board of VHI learned this morning that John O’Dwyer, CEO, received a vaccination at the Beacon Hospital.

“The Board is aware, and with Mr O’Dwyer’s consent, can now disclose that he has been a patient of the Beacon Hospital and St James’s Hospital for oesophageal cancer.

“The Board is commencing an investigation to establish the facts. While the investigation is ongoing John O’Dwyer has offered to step aside as CEO and the Board has agreed to this. Declan Moran has been appointed Acting CEO.”

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