Laois/Offaly constituents in their nineties not yet vaccinated – Deputy Stanley

Laois/Offaly TD Brian Stanley has revealed in the Dáil this morning that there are constituents in Laois and Offaly in their nineties who have yet to be vaccinated.

Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, Deputy Stanley said:

“If we are to emerge from the pandemic in any sort of efficient or timely manner, we need to significantly increase the supply of vaccines.”

Sinn Féin has called on the Minister to raise the matter with the European Commission and to put pressure on it to be more proactive around approving other effective vaccines.

“Other countries are doing side deals while the Government sits on its hands. Germany has done a deal with Pfizer, as has Denmark. Austria has followed suit. Slovakia and the Czechs have signed up for Sputnik, the Russian vaccine.

“What actions are the Government taking to speed up the European Commission and the European Medicines Agency, EMA, in terms of the approval of other effective vaccines’?

“All those over the age of 80 are supposed to have been vaccinated. I know of a 97-year-old woman in my constituency who has not yet been vaccinated. Another constituent of mine, a 95-year-old man, has not yet been vaccinated.

“We cannot get information as to when they will be vaccinated. Both of the constituents to whom I referred are housebound. My office telephoned the HSE Helpline but we cannot obtain information.”

Deputy Stanley also questioned if there is actually a mobile vaccination service or unit in Laois-Offaly, stating he cannot get an answer about it.

“Is there such a unit? All Deputies will agree there is no shortage of managers in the HSE. In fact, there are legions of them. Can one person be put in charge of the vaccine roll-out in each county?

“It is a real problem on the ground. I am telling the Minister sincerely that this must be dealt with. It is not acceptable that people who are approaching 100 years of age have not yet been vaccinated.”

He also said the Government is abandoning its original vaccination roll-out as it concluded it was not fit for purpose.

“Key workers such as teachers, gardaí and taxi drivers have been downgraded. Taxi drivers who provide services for the HSE, whose situation I raised in the House several months ago, as well as special needs assistants who work in close proximity to others, childcare workers and essential retail workers, have not been vaccinated.”

He referred to an outbreak at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, and said that prison officers need protection.

“They have to deal with conflict in the prison daily. They work in close quarters with no room to socially distance and they are in a very difficult situation. Some of them have raised this issue with me.

“I refer to family carers and those who work in day services for the intellectually challenged and physically disabled. We need to try to do something to get these service workers and ensure they are safe.

“We need a fair roll-out of the vaccine. I ask that his office revert to my office with an email in that regard, today if possible, because it is a really important issue. It is a life-and-death issue,” he finished.