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THE SITUATION REGARDING parents bringing children to vaccination centres has been clarified by the HSE following confusion.
Everyone attending vaccination centres is being told not to bring anyone else to their appointment, in order to reduce the number of people in the vaccination centre.
Parents are also being told not to bring children, except an allowance is made for circumstances where there is no one available to mind their child.
“If you have no childcare options, your child will need to stay with you at all times while you are at the vaccination centre,” the HSE says.
When you arrive for your appointment, we will ask you to fill in a form giving contact details for a nominated adult who can take care of your child in case of any emergency.
The situation regarding children, particularly young babies, at vaccine centres had been the source of some confusion, with reports of some parents being refused entry into centres and others resorting to leaving their child outside with another adult.
Note: This article was updated on 15/07/2021 after the HSE changed the guidance.
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I had to cancel my appointment because I couldn’t take my child with me. I rang the covid hotline and they said I could take a child in with me but when I arrived there I was told no, it would be nice if they could have communicated with each other instead of me going backwards and forwards.
@Sommer Church:
It makes sense when there is a risk of a person becoming unwell in the 15 mins post vaccine. Annoying and inconvenient as it may be what happens when someone collapses (as did happen to a man in the observation area after my first shot) who is then responsible for caring for the child. So much easier all round if people can get someone to watch their kid for 30 mins even in the car outside.
@Sarah Lou: not so simple where single parents are concerned. Not everyone has support
@Steph: most people would have someone who could sit with the child for 30 mins or should one be unexpectedly hospitalised for any reason someone that could take their child. Most people wouldn’t consider bringing their kids to a hairdresser, pub, for a smear etc.
@Sarah Lou: Sweeping statement. Not at all true in a lot of cases.
@Lorna O’Shea: Im sorry Lorna I have no idea what sweeping statement I made. I have said most repetitively. I don’t accept that “alot” of parents have absolutely noone to leave their kids with, the vast majority of children do not go into the Foster system for an unexpected hospitalisation. Most parents could source childcare for 15 to 30 minutes if it was required.
@Sarah Lou: I know women who haven’t been to a pub or hairdresser in years, because of lack of support. Nevermind a smear.
@Contrary Mary: firstly is that the majority of women you know, alot of women or the vast minority of women? I must also ask Mary have you offered to sit with their child in the car for them to get vaccinated. This is a mountain our of a mole hill. We are talking about vaccinating all adults in the country, what is that 4 million people. Half of whom are of childrearing age. A child needs supervision for 15-30 mins for the vaccine from what baby to 12 years. So half the number of child benefit recipients and the vast majority have childcare available to them. Reading the comments on here you would think it was 2-4 million of the attendees having this issue. Anyone I know that attended with their kids was either unaware of the rule or had other priorities.
@Sarah Lou: there is on site paramedics and emts there.
@Sarah Lou: relax, it’s Contrary Mary, the clue is in the name.
@Dave O’Keeffe: I know dave but I appear to be triggered. I mean who doesn’t attend important health checks that could save your life?! I know there are some people who can’t get childcare for various reasons but they are few and far between. There is an air of entitlement about bringing to the vaccine centre for some, in my opinion. Its just not an appropriate setting.
@Sarah Lou: air of entitlement of yourself actually casting judgments onnother peoples situations
Surely the number of people who have no choice but to bring a child or children is so small that we don’t need ‘rules’ ?
And before anyone criticizes, I’m a single parent, I don’t have much family help, but have always managed to arrange childcare if and when necessary…
@EvieXVI: But that’s you. You aren’t everyone. Just like not everyone can get to a vac centre. Not everyone can afford a taxi, when no bus stop is near your designation. Some of you are seriously out of touch with how poor/how alone some are in this country.
My daughter ended up sitting in a car for 30 minutes in 25 degree heat a couple of weeks ago. The alternative was to stand around the entrance with strangers coming and going. For solo parents it is inconvenient. She was wearing a mask. I saw no reason for her to be left outside. However I cannot fault the efficiency of the centre beyond that it was impressive.
@Dearbhla O Reilly: another alternative would be postpone until you had someone to mind your child..no solo parent excuses..I like most parents are left totally alone all day to mind my child until my partner gets home from work and if i needed to do something where child couldn’t go I just don’t do it until I can arrange something..I am expecting hate over this but if your child was a dog everyone would be outraged
I had my second vaccine on Sunday and a man who was also being vaccinated had his three young children with him no one had a problem with it….
@Lesley Harpur O Connell: yep curtain twitches wont say anything they will just throw daggers and wait to get online to give out
@motojack: you may be missing the point. It’s not the curtain twitches that are being discussed it’s the vaccination centre policy. The nobody having an issue with it are the people working at the centre.
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