Call to prioritise frontline healthcare workers for booster jab

Deputy Peadar Tóibín has called on the government to immediately prioritise frontline healthcare workers as Ireland reaches an immunity cliff edge in the fight against Covid-19.

“Covid has shown in flashing neon lights the inability of this government to make timely decisions. 2,700 Health Care Workers are absent from the Health Service yet the Government ponders whether or not to offer a booster Jab!

Over the past few weeks, I have spoken to frontline medical professionals who have attested to hundreds if not thousands of their colleagues who have contracted Covid-19.

"Hospitals and nursing homes were Ground Zero during the fight against Covid-19, in terms of cases, hospitalisations and deaths. Our healthcare heroes, which have included everyone from student trainees to experienced doctors and nurses, have not let Covid-19 get in the way of them looking after the Irish people.

"The very least we can do is ensure that these healthcare workers are offered the booster vaccine jab so that they can avoid falling off the immunity cliff. Our medical professionals deserve the highest level of protection available as they go about work of caring for people.”

“Our Healthcare service simply cannot afford a situation where hundreds, if not thousands, of healthcare workers have contracted Covid-19 and are unable to work, especially as we come into the winter period.

"Each healthcare worker out of work has a direct impact upon waiting lists, treatment delays, and healthcare incapacity. Research by Aontú has shown the impact Covid-19 has already had on our healthcare service.

"60,000 less women were screened by Cervical check in 2020. Cancer screenings and cancer treatment have been routinely restricted or outright suspended since March 2020. If we fail to make booster jabs available to healthcare workers, this will directly translate into more delays in health care treatment. Healthcare workers were predominantly vaccinated prior to April 2021, meaning their immunity derived from the vaccine is beginning to wane.

"To protect them, and stop our healthcare service falling off an immunity cliff, we need to see the Irish government expedite the offer of the booster jabs for our frontline workers immediately,” he said.