The COVID-19 vaccine is here, and starting from tomorrow 30th December, the HSE will begin giving the vaccine to people in the highest priority groups – frontline healthcare workers, and older people living in long-term care facilities. We will begin vaccinating in four hospital sites tomorrow and a 6 week programme of vaccinations will commence in nursing homes nationwide from January 4th.
The COVID-19 vaccine will offer you protection from COVID-19.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine should also protect you from the serious
complications of COVID-19. Our aim in offering the vaccine to the population is
to protect people and reduce the illness and deaths caused by this virus.
We are commencing an
information programme all about the vaccine, starting with information for the
first priority groups being offered the vaccine. Our information covers the
topics that people told us were most important to them – when the vaccine will
be available, who is in the priority groups, safety and long-term side effects,
and how effective the vaccine is. We will begin radio and social media
advertising on December 30th.
We encourage everyone in
Ireland to read about the COVID-19 vaccine and to get their information from a
factual, trusted source – our website on www.hse.ie/covid19vaccine is a good place to start,
and you can find our vaccine information materials at www.hse.ie/covid19vaccinematerials
An Easy Read Guide will be available in the coming days.
Public Health Measures
Ireland has now moved to Level 5 with some modifications.
You can see the measures in place here. We are asking everyone to
please reduce their contacts as much as possible, and make sure to follow the
public health advice to stop the spread of the virus.
HSE COVID-19 Test and Trace
is open
When you need a test for COVID-19, our health service works hard
to make this as quick and safe as possible for you. If you feel unwell on a
public holiday, the weekend or in the evening, the GP out of hours service can
refer you for a test too. The GP referral and test are both free of charge.
Most people will get a test appointment within 24 hours. Our contact tracers
will continue to call people who test positive for COVID-19 and trace their
close contacts to give them public health advice throughout the New Year.
Contact tracers will advise
close contacts to restrict their movements for 14 days and arrange a COVID-19
test. People who test positive and/or who have symptoms of COVID-19 must
self-isolate in a room on their own and avoid other people. This will help stop
the spread of the virus.
GP out of hours services are available throughout the country at
weekends and evenings. You can find contact details for your local GP
Out of Hours Service here.
Public Health Information
As always, for the most up to date information and advice on
Coronavirus, please go to: https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional
guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to
date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.
Please check here for the most up to date
partner resources for COVID-19.
Please also check the Healthy Ireland site here with further resources
and information on the Keep Well campaign
You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding
to cases of COVID-19 here.
Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.
