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SOME PHARMACISTS AND GPS are rescheduling flu jab bookings for non-priority patients due to a delay in the arrival of the vaccines.
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) said some “inconvenience and frustration” has been caused by the rescheduling of these appointments.
“There has been a technical delay in initial vaccine allocations, meaning that vaccine orders have not been delivered as expected – not just in Ireland, but throughout the Northern hemisphere,” the IPU said in a statement to TheJournal.ie.
“Some Pharmacists and GPs who had booked patients in for vaccination are now having to reschedule these patients, which is causing some inconvenience and frustration, but ultimately we have been assured by the HSE that the full quantity ordered will be delivered and that there will be a vaccine for everyone who needs one.”
The organisation said it “urged everyone” to talk to their pharmacist about getting the flu jab.
Boots pharmacy chain has been rescheduling flu vaccine appointments booked before 6 October for patients not considered to be at-risk.
In a statement, Boots said this is due to the “broad delay” for the delivery of the vaccines across the market.
Those considered by the HSE to be at-risk include those aged over 65, children aged 2-12 and certain people with long-term health conditions.
“These were due to arrive prior to October 1 when the vaccination service is planned to commence in our stores,” Boots said.
“As a result, we are currently rescheduling any appointments booked prior to October 6 for people who fall outside of the HSE at-risk groups for whom a vaccination is strongly recommended.”
Future appointments are being prioritised for at-risk patients in line with HSE guidance.
The vaccine in numbers
Speaking yesterday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said officials want this to be the “biggest flu vaccination programme the State has ever seen”.
“The State has advance purchased about two million doses, about 1.4 million of which is the injection… and about 600,000 of which is this nasal spray for children,” he said.
“About half of the doses have arrived in Ireland are being distributed and the vaccine is now being administered.”
A new nasal vaccine for children will be available from mid-October.
A spokesperson for the HSE recently said that deliveries of the vaccine to GPs, pharmacies, hospitals and nursing homes began on 17 September, and they are confident it will receive adequate supplies in the coming weeks.
The HSE has set a target uptake of 75% for those aged 65 years and older and for healthcare workers, in line with the World Health Organization’s target. The target uptake for the nasal flu vaccine for children aged two to 12 is 60%.
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If the film is an accurate representation of what these lads did a medal isn’t enough, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, stuff of legends. “We fired every bullet twice” you couldn’t make it up much respect for all involved.
@Marc Walsh: Hear hear Marc. Couldn’t agree with you more..
After hearing about the Peacekeepers being killed today; it really puts their achievement into context.
If half of the story is true it is still amazing that none of them were killed.
@Niallers: Its all true. My father was a mortar commander in A Company. It was the most incredible thing watching the movie for the first time with him and seeing him relive it all. He said the only cinematic deviance that he was aware of was that the helicopter was shot before it got off the ground. In the movie the heli is shot out of the air. What it didn’t show was the chaplain going from tench to trench giving the men the last rites. My dad is a hero :)
@Helena Quinn: Yes he is .
@Helena Quinn: he most certainly is.respect.
Anyone who is sent to protect and comes out the otherside should have a lot more than a medal.
It’s amazing that the articles don’t include Conor Cruise O’Briens responsibility for the men being in this predicament.Whitewashed out of it for some reason.
I would appeal to the Irish government to recognise these brave warriors actions and that of their Commandant and award them the highest honour the state can bestow in the form of a proper decorative medal in respect of their outstanding bravery against overwhelming odds.I salute them and their memory for service towards world peace.True patriots all.
the movie was incredible, their story amazing, what they did was heroism, but that their own country condemned them as cowards and traitors is sickening, these men should have lived the life of heroes upon their return, but instead were cast aside as an embarrassment to the hierarchy of the army, shame shame shame
I am totally thrilled these men got recognised for their bravery and so those my father who was in the 34th Battalion in the Congo. As a veteran himself my father feels that all the battalions should get a recognition for their services especially the early ones like the 32nd, 33rd,34,35th,38th all involved in Combat. My father told me stories that’d make the hair stand on your head, he was in several situations and sieges where they had to fight their way out and he was always on the front line as a Bren. I’m getting his story told after Christmas and pursuing it more for recognition.
Give them medals. Long long overdue
Hear, hear. I don’t understand why they haven’t received individual medals for their courage already. The army knows what they went through – public opinion back in the day has nothing to do with how well they came through. Brilliant film too.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: medals lol you are hilarious
About time these men were truly honoured for their bravery.
The way they were treated was both embarrassing and shameful.
It seems the prologue to the siege involved Indian troops with a gung-ho attitude. The progression of the siege involved the Cruiser trying to protect his own ass. The end involved the Irish Top Brass displaying an ostrich head in the sand mentality. The Irish troops were treated as tiny pawns in a game. To treat them as cowards was utterly despicable by the Irish State. To have the reputation of a judicious commander who managed the situation and protected the lives of his men left in tatters by the attitude of his so called superiors was nothing short of scandalous.
The politicians , was it Connor cruise O brien involved in that
Bravery for making tea, decisions Lyons or Barrys
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