Sir, – Portal for vulnerable children opens initially on December 27th with no way to indicate that a child is vulnerable. Parent of very high-risk child registers the child plus three primary school siblings as soon as the portal is open due to overwhelming anxiety and concerns for her children’s health. Portal is amended. Parent rings HSE, told registration cannot be amended to indicate child is vulnerable. Parent rings again. Information is taken. Parent rings again as no appointment has appeared. Told child is not marked as vulnerable. Parent challenges this. Information is found. Parent rings again to check said information has been amended. Parent told it will be three weeks before an appointment is issued. Parent then hears that non-high-risk children, registered January 3rd have registered for and received vaccine appointments today. Parent once again realises that concern for vulnerable children and carers is nothing more than sound bites. Parent swallows back tears . . . again . . . and picks up the phone to start fighting . . . again. – Yours, etc,
NIAMH SHINE,
Dublin 12.