The availability of Covid 19 vaccines continues to be the most significant factor in the rate of rollout of the vaccine programme across the region and nationally. That was confirmed this afternoon by Saolta CEO, Tony Canavan.
He was speaking to cllrs at the monthly virtual HSE West Regional forum meeting.
There are now 5 large scale Vaccination Centres open across this region – at Ballybrit Race course in Galway, Breaffy House –Castlebar, the Abbey Hotel -Roscommon, and the IT’s in Sligo and Letterkenny.
While, there are no figures specific to counties yet compiled by the HSE in relation to Covid incidence numbers and deaths.
Mr Canavan said as of yesterday (Mon) 230,000 people nationally have contracted Covid 19 since the start of the pandemic, with the deaths of 4,588 people with the virus.
He explained that there was a reduced numbers of covid 19 patients in hospitals nationally in February / early March . With 359 patients with the virus in hospital nationally today, and 80 of these patients are in ICU.
He warned however, that over the past two weeks while hospital occupation with patients with the virus has stagnated, since the 10th March the improvement expected under Level 5 Restricions are not materialising.
This week right across the country the focus group being vaccinated against the virus is Category 4 - that is people at very high risk due to their medical condition.
He concluded saying that he is hopeful that the number of vaccines available will improve significantly over the next two months.