Ambulance Service increase numbers vaccinating housebound

The announcement that the National Ambulance Service is to increase the number of personnel carrying out vaccinations for those who are housebound has been welcomed by Deputy Darren O’Rourke.

His comments come after he raised the delays and lack of information in this area directly with the Taoiseach in the Dáil last week.

“I challenged the Taoiseach in the Dáil about the delay in vaccinating those people who are housebound in County Meath and the difficulties their families were facing trying to get answers.

“I’m pleased to see action is now being taken, which will see the number of teams carrying out vaccinations for the housebound increased.

“The National Ambulance Service are doing fantastic work in this area, but they can only get to so many people per day, and work with the resources they have, so I welcome the news that their capacity is now set to be doubled."

Deputy O'Rourke said there had been a major oversight by the Government and the HSE regarding the housebound.

"It has taken them a long time to acknowledge that and a long time to act.

“Those who are housebound are some of the most vulnerable in our community and they should have been prioritised in the rollout.

“Our vaccination programme started at the end of December, so it’s completely unacceptable that it will be May before some of our housebound citizens receive their first Covid-19 vaccination, particularly as we hear that age is the determining risk factor.

“I hope this news comes to fruition and makes a difference. I hope, too, that it gives some comfort to older people in County Meath who are still waiting on their vaccine and to their families who are anxious to see them vaccinated,” he concluded.