Nine ultra-low refrigeration trucks arrived in Dublin to keep the COVID vaccine safe

DUBLIN: The government has made all the arrangements for the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in early January. Nine ultra-low refrigeration trucks have been imported into Ireland for this.

The trucks, which arrived in Ireland on Tuesday, are parked in Citywest in Dublin. They will be operational from next week. These are used to deliver Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines from the central depot to local locations. The vaccine has to be stored at minus-70 degrees Celsius before being deployed for use. These trucks are also set up for that purpose.

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are awaiting EU approval for clinical use. Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil that the approval is expected by December 29.

Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has accused the government of slowing down preparations for the COVID-19vaccine. “We have to do it with speed. That’s what’s going on in Finland, France, Denmark, and now in the UK in relation to their plans for roll-out,” Mr. Kelly said.

The High-Level Task Force should not just be meeting, he demanded that a permanent system of vaccination be established under the leadership of a cabinet minister. There must be a concerted effort to overcome COVID-19, just as Health Minister Noel Browne resisted TB earlier in the middle of the last century, he said.

Mr. Kelly noted that the Longitude music festival, which will be attended by 120,000 people, will take place next July, before which we need to remember what will happen if the vaccine is not made available to everyone.

The Taoiseach said that he would pay special attention to making the vaccine available to all. “A lot of the experience and expertise resides at the Department of Health and the HSE. They have been involved in previous vaccination programmes, and there is a natural immunisation committee.”

“Yesterday, delivery was taken of nine ultra-low fridges trucks into the country. They’re stored at Citywest and will be commissioned by the middle of next week.”

“Logistics is a key work stream that’s being worked on, along with the IT infrastructure, and a database will have to be created in terms of sequencing, and who gets the vaccine first. And of course, communications is going to be vital,” The Taoiseach said.