DUBLIN: Most countries are ramping up their vaccination program as the death toll from those who have not been vaccinated rises in the second wave of COVID-19.
Vaccine administration is progressing well in Ireland. The HSE said it expects 30% of the population were given their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the weekend. The plan is to vaccinate 240,000 people by next week.
As of 30 April, 1,572,779 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Ireland. 1,130,958 people received their first dose, and 441,821 received their second dose.
The latest HSE figures show that a record 45,000 vaccines were administered across the country on Friday, including 33,000 first doses and 12,000 second doses.
By the end of June, 600,000 J&J vaccine doses will arrive in Ireland. At that time, most people over the age of 50 should be vaccinated. Registration for this will start from tomorrow (Tuesday).
One death, 402 new cases
The department of health has confirmed one further death and 402 new COVID-19 cases in Ireland yesterday.
A total of 249,838 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the country so far, with 4,906 virus-related deaths.
Of the cases notified yesterday, 220 are men and 182 are women. 77% are under 45 years of age and the median age is 31.5 years old.
As of yesterday morning, 127 COVID-19 patients were hospitalised, of which 41 were in ICU.
Donegal had the highest incidence rate in the country, at 293.4 per 100,000 people, while the national 14-day incidence rate is 127.3 per 100,000. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) says Donegal has the worst COVID-19 rate in the country right now.
Amid concerns about case numbers in Donegal, Junior Minister Pippa Hackett said that possibility of local lockdowns “couldn’t be ruled out”.
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