Concerns over delay in roll-out of vaccines to elderly of Mayo raised with HSE chief

The delay in the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines to elderly people in Mayo has been raised with the head of the HSE, Paul Reid, by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

It follows representations by Mayo TD Dara Calleary.

The Ballina-based representative said a significant number of GP practices across the county have yet to receive an allocation of vaccines for their patients aged over 80 - a situation causing a great deal of anxiety and frustration for families.

He stated: "I understand there will be an allocation tomorrow ahead of the weekend.

"But there needs to be greater clarity in regard to the situation.

"We need to know at the start of every week how many vaccines have been distributed to the county and to which practices.

"The role of pharmacies in administrating vaccines also needs to be fully addressed.

"The vaccines was rolled rolled out very efficiently to nursing homes across the county during February and I believe the same policy and urgency should be adopted now in respect of GP practices and pharmacists.

"Things are not running smoothly at the moment. Hopefully that will change very quickly now that the director general of the HSE has been made aware of Mayo's problems," he added in an interview with Midwest Radio,