Anger as Ratoath's over 85s still not vaccinated
Anger has been expressed in Ratoath as the over 85s in the village have not yet been vaccinated.
A local doctor has said that the elderly who are registered to smaller practices are being discriminated against.
Dr Ursula Keane of Meadowbank Medical Centre told RTE's Primetime last night that she has 160 patients over the age of 70 in her practice.
"The HSE has decided, somewhat arbitrarily in my opinion, that only practices with 200 or more patients over the age of 70 will get deliveries to their practice.
"I don't fully understand why patients over the age of 70, who happen to be registered with a smaller practice should be discriminated against, compared with patients who happened to be registered with a bigger practice."
The HSE has asked smaller practices to buddy up with other practices, but Cllr Nick Killian said that is not happening by various mixed messages from the HSE and non delivery.
"Ratoath is a large village - we have over 11,000 people living here, and we have many elderly residents, not just in the Ratoath itself, but in the surrounding rural area, and they're dependent on the local doctors who have been told to buddy up.
"After a difficult year, the pace of the rollout is the source of anxiety for the over 80s.. Families are really distressed. I have sons and daughters with very elderly parents contacting me.
"I had one lady on one lady and she was crying on the phone to me, because she's looking at her mother of 86 years of age who is anxious.
"She was so looking forward to getting the vaccine this week. Her neighbour has already got it.
"There is such disappointment and it's really sad."
CEO of the HSE Paul Reid said "Some GPS didn't want to buddy up or weren't in a position to do. So we've had three models, vaccination centres, buddying up GP practices and big GP practices. In the case of those who didn't want to buddy up - there are about 65 of them across the country. They're all going to be receiving their vaccines by next week. All the vaccinations of the 85s and over will be finished next week."