Second Covid vaccination centre for Meath to open

A second Covid-19 vaccination centre for Meath will be up and running "as soon as possible" it was announced this evening.

Local TD and Minister for EU Affairs Thomas Byrne confirmed to the Meath Chronicle that a second facility would be established at Fairyhouse Racecourse and will have twice the capacity as the exisiting vaccination centre at Simonstown, Navan.

“Over recent weeks I have worked closely with the HSE, the Minister for Health and indeed An Taoiseach Michael Martin to ensure the people of Meath weren’t left behind.

“In order to increase vaccination capacity in Meath, a large number of potential sites were recently viewed and assessed across the county. Fairyhouse Racecourse has now been identified as a new Community Vaccination Centre which will increase capacity by 20 bays, bringing the number of bays in county Meath to 30 Bays overall.

"Approval for this expansion has been given by the HSE with a view to having the new centre at Fairyhouse up and running as soon as possible. The recruitment of additional staff to open additional booths in Meath is also to be progressed as a matter of urgency by the HSE.

Minister Byrne said that over 33,000 vaccinations had been completed to date in Louth/Meath.

"Between now and next Tuesday there will be a further 10,000 vaccinations delivered across a number of vaccination centres in the Louth/Meath area but Meath residents will also be vaccinated in The Helix, City West and Mullingar Community Vaccination Centres. This will allow for the of the 50-59 year old cohort to be completed in the CHO by mid next week."

The Meath East TD added that the extra 10,000 vaccines are the Johnson & Johnson one shot vaccine and recipients will not require any further follow up as they will have completed the programme.

“The new vaccination centre in Fairyhouse will complement the existing centre in Simonstown which is now at full capacity, vaccinating 1,000 people daily, operating on a 7-day week and12 hour a day.