GPs and pharmacists are planning on vaccinating as many patients as possible over the Christmas period, as the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme ramps up ahead of increased socialisation during the holidays.
Currently, 75 per cent of GPs are vaccinating the public, though the Government is aiming to get all GPs on board. They also want to double the number of pharmacies involved.
The booster campaign also has to be balanced with the busiest time of year for doctors and pharmacists.
Dr Nick Flynn, a GP with MyCorkGP and Union Quay Medical Centre in Cork city, said it was a "call to arms" from the Government, and their practice is planning on offering vaccinations right through the Christmas period.
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“Our practice almost ran out of vaccines – we were down to our last few vials and thought we wouldn’t be getting any more before Christmas, but now we are.”
His practice has roughly 10,000 medical card patients, and practically all of the over 70s have received their booster, according to Dr Flynn. “The majority of the over 60s and vulnerable patients are also done.”
They are planning on vaccinating the rest of their patients between now and the second week in January. “We will also try to offer vaccines to anyone else who wants one, people whose own GP isn’t doing vaccinations.”
Dr Flynn says it won’t be an easy task, as staff will be exhausted by the time Christmas week rolls around.
He is planning on asking staff to volunteer over the holidays, and they may hire external nurses to help with the rollout.
“We should have a delivery on Monday, and and we plan to vaccinate seven days a week, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.”
Booster programme
Dr Mike Thompson, founder of the Imokilly Medical Centre in Midleton, Co Cork, said that a major obstacle to the booster programme is the 15 minute waiting period after vaccination. He believes this should be scrapped, as it has been in the UK.
His practice is doing an all-day clinic on Thursday, Saturday and next Thursday. “We will hopefully do about 2,500 people, which is going to be us nearly done then.”
He was hopeful that people will still come for a booster over the Christmas period, especially as side effects are mild for most people. “It’s a very good gift you could give to yourself and the ones around you.”
He said non-urgent care will not be prioritised over the next few weeks while the booster programme is ramped up.
He asked patients to be kind to front of house staff, such as receptionists, during this period.
“We also have to be careful that urgent care does not get displaced into the out of hours service.”
Overall, the HSE is working with GPs very well: “Anything we have asked for we have been given.”
Darragh O'Loughlin, secretary general of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), said that pharmacies are "pulling out all the stops".
Three weeks ago, roughly 17,500 boosters were given through pharmacies, according to Mr O’Loughlin. “Two weeks ago, it was 31,000, and last week it was just shy of 45,000.”
Additional vaccine deliveries will arrive this weekend or early next week, and Mr O’Loughlin called on all pharmacies who aren’t currently participating to join in.
More than 1,000 pharmacies were vaccinating during the summer, which tapered off to roughly 470 once the initial programme ended. “By the end of last week we had 550 pharmacies involved, we are aiming to have that up to the 700s next week, and over 1,000 in the new year.”
Pharmacy students could be trained to administer vaccines, Mr O’Loughlin said. “There’s over 300 students in fourth and fifth year who could be added to the workforce.”
However, these students won’t be available until after Christmas as they are currently sitting exams.
The IPU are also calling for the 15-minute wait after vaccination to be abandoned.