‘Bumper weeks’ ahead as NI coronavirus vaccine roll-out hits 500,000 doses

Around a third of all adults in Northern Ireland have now had at least one dose, with a move to begin the mass vaccination of all adults of all ages now only weeks away.

By way of contrast, in the Republic of Ireland less than 6% of the population has been vaccinated,

Dr Tom Black, chair of the British Medical Association’s Northern Ireland commitee, described the achievement as “phenomenal”.

He said that once all over-50s are vaccinated – something he expects to happen by April – hospital admissions and deaths from the virus would be virtually eliminated.

Dr Black said he and other GPs have been told there will be “a good supply of vaccines this week and hopefully an increasing supply in the next couple of months”.

His comments come after UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a radio interview earlier this week there would be “some really bumper weeks in March” as supplies ramp up.

Northern Ireland’s vaccine supply, which is allocated on the basis of population size through the central UK supply, was described as “modest but steady” by the head of the vaccine roll-out here earlier this week.

Patricia Donnelly added, however, that “much larger numbers” are expected in March and April and promised the roll-out would “escalate” accordingly.

Vaccines are being administered through what she has described as a “twin-track” approach, with Pfizer jabs being given through mass vaccination centres and AstraZeneca jabs through GP practices.

Dr Black said GPs are currently vaccinating the clinically vulnerable – those who would normally receive a flu vaccine – with mass vaccine centres taking bookings from carers.

Looking ahead, he said: “Moving on to the other groups, the key thing is to try and get everybody over 50 done by April. I don’t know which date in April, but it’s by April.

“If we get enough AstraZeneca vaccine we will get it all done.

“The Pfizer vaccine through the large vaccination centres will be moving on now into their second doses, so starting with the over-80s, the healthcare workers, starting within the next week.

“There are certainly a lot of healthcare workers with appointments for next week.”

He continued: “Everybody would like more vaccine but when you have half-a-million done and you haven’t even got to the end of February, you have to smile and think ‘that’s phenomenal’.

“Nobody ever thought we could do more than half-a-million vaccinations in less than two months but we’ve managed it. We’re chomping at the bit to get more done.”

He stressed the importance of vaccinating everyone aged over 50: “We especially want to get everybody over 50 done because that will clear out 90-99% of the admissions to hospital and the deaths.”