VHI chief executive steps aside while board investigates his receiving of vaccine in Beacon Hospital

An investigation is underway to "establish the facts".

The chief executive of the VHI has stepped aside from his position after it was revealed he received a Covid-19 vaccine at the Beacon Hospital. In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, 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.”

The statement comes after The Irish Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that the VHI’s chief executive John O’Dwyer received a vaccine at the Beacon. Earlier on Tuesday, the VHI said it was aware that a senior executive who was receiving care for a serious illness had received a vaccine at the Beacon Hospital. The statement this evening comes after a report in The Irish Daily Mail that VHI's chief executive John O'Dwyer had received a vaccine at the hospital. Last Friday, the Beacon came under criticism for giving 20 "left-over" AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to teachers and staff from the private St Gerard’s Catholic School in Bray in Wicklow. The children of Beacon CEO Michael Cullen attend the fee-paying school. He has since apologised for vaccinating the school staff, saying the decision was made "under time pressure".