“We all need to hold the collective nerve here,” the Taoiseach said.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that the HSE will be vaccinating high-risk children aged 5 – 11 from next week.
The announcement comes after NIAC issued advice last week stating that it is “strongly recommended” kids in this age bracket that either have an underlying condition, live with a younger child with complex medical needs or live with an immunocompromised adult should receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
The vaccine dosage advised for this age group is much lower than for those over 12, with 5 to 11-year-olds to receive a dose of only 10 µg, compared to 30 µg.
“The HSE will on the week commencing 20 December start vaccinating high-risk children,” Martin told the Six One News.
“That’s the high priority that was given by NIAC.”
He also said the further vaccination of children in this age group will start from “about 10 January onwards”.
The Taoiseach made the comments ahead of his meeting with Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan on Tuesday evening.
“We want to tease things out tonight in terms of the impact of Omicron, the potential impact of it, the degree of transmissibility and how we respond as a society,” he said ahead of the meeting.
He stated the Government’s “key initial focus” is on the booster vaccine programme, adding that the opening hours of vaccination centres are to be extended, more are to open and that all GPs are being asked to help administer boosters to the population.
Earlier on Tuesday, Professor of Immunology at DCU Christine Loscher stated that the Government should consider closing schools early for Christmas break on Friday to limit the spread of the virus.
However, the Taoiseach told the Six One News that this was not the Government’s “intention at all at this stage”.
Martin was also asked if he anticipates making an address to the public to announce new restrictions between now and New Year.
“A week is a long time in Covid. I’ve learned that now,” he responded.
“What I would say to people is we all need to hold the collective nerve here.
“We’ve been through different waves of the pandemic. We’ll get over this wave as well.
“We’ve a very good booster programme… People have adjusted their behaviour.
“This is a very transmissible variant though and it spreads very fast and that is a threat to us. We need to be conscious of that.”
Main image via Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie
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