Excitement as Navan vaccination centre opens its doors

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said it was a day of “hope” for the county as the HSE Vaccination centre officially opens its doors this morning.

Vaccinations of those aged 65 -69 will begin today in the transformed Simonstown GAA Club in Navan.

Approximately 400 AstraZeneca vaccines will be distributed to people who have registered on www.hse.ie to receive the jab.

The centre will be open five days a week Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm initially with around 400 people receiving their vaccination each day.

That number is aimed to increase to 1,200 per day as opening extends to seven days a week.

Vaccinations are by appointment only and you should bring your appointment information to the vaccination centre. This will be on your mobile phone or in a letter. You will also need to bring your photo ID.

Individuals entering the centre will be required to register at one of the stations where health care staff will be on hand to answer any queries you might have.

Next you will be guided to one of ten vaccination booths where you will be talked through the process and receive your jab.

Finally, you will be accompanied to the waiting area where you will be monitored for a minimum of fifteen minutes. The process from registration to completion will take around 30 minuets.

At a preview of the centre this week, Siobhan Murphy, General Manager for Midlands Louth Meath and Area Vaccination Lead overseeing the development of the vaccinations centres in CH08 said:

“This is a hugely significant week in the Covid response for the northeast, for Navan and for the country.

“We are delighted to be advising everybody of the fact that Navan is opening its doors at 9am and we hope to be administering around 400 vaccines for the public aged 65 – 69.

“We are really excited to be here and we really looking forward to welcoming all of the people from Co, Meath and beyond to our vaccination centres in the not too distant future.”

Des O’Flynn, Chief Officer, Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare Organisation, said, “Our staff have been working very hard to implement the vaccination programme since the beginning of the year, we are nearing completion of vaccination of healthcare workers, with the vaccination programme in residential settings already completed and we are working on Cohort 4.

“The next phase will see the opening of the identified vaccination centres throughout the Midlands Louth Meath for the next cohort, these aged between 65-69. This is a positive and welcome step towards ensuring we can vaccinate people as quickly as possible. I would like to acknowledge the work and commitment of all our staff who are supporting this delivery. We look forward to welcoming those aged 65-69 for vaccination in the coming weeks.”

Clinical Lead Eileen Gilsenan commented that:

It is a great day for Meath and it is part of the Covid recovery plan the fact that we are able to offer vaccinations in a centre like Simonstown that has been purposely structured to allow it to happen.

“We know vaccines are going to make people’s lives safer and this together with social distancing and mask wearing and keeping to the guidelines are all part of the programme to make Ireland safer and to allow us to open the country up again.”

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said it was a day of “hope” for the county.

“It’s just fantastic and I can’t commend the staff and team enough here this is how it’s going to work and this is the only reason it is happening because people have put themselves forward and there is such a dedicated team here.

“I think It has given people hope as well, we all know people and are starting to hear and see of more and more people getting vaccinated and we know the figures show that even the first dose gives such an amount of protection so it’s a sign of hope Simonstown being opened and knowing that there will be thousands of people coming through the doors in the coming weeks it is a really positive thing.”

People should bring your appointment information to the vaccination centre. This will be on your mobile phone or in a letter. You will also need to bring your photo ID.

This can be your:

· passport - book or card

· driving licence

· Public Services Card

· travel pass

· National Age Card - issued by the Gardaí

· identification form with a photograph signed by a member of the Gardaí - get this from a Garda station

You will not be vaccinated if you do not have photo ID.