Staff vaccinations start at Tallaght University Hospital
By Mary Dennehy
STAFF vaccinations started today at Tallaght University Hospital, with plans in place to deliver the first dose of the vaccine to all staff in the next two weeks.
At 10am on Tuesday, January 5, Louise Power, a arthroplasty nurse specialist, became the first person in Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) to be vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine.
Clinical Nurse Facilitator Vivienne Dick dispenses the first COVID-19 vaccination to her colleague Louise Power, Arthroplasty Nurse Specialist at Tallaght University Hospital as the staff COVID-19 vaccination programme started in the hospital on Tuesday
Louise, who is from Firhouse, was vaccinated by her colleague Vivienne Dick, Clinical Nurse Facilitator.
According to TUH, Louise was given a HSE vaccine information leaflet, along with a more detailed manufacturer’s patient information leaflet before getting the vaccine.
After being vaccinated, each staff member is given a vaccine record card, showing the name and batch of the vaccine they have received.
Appointments for staff to receive the second dose of the vaccine are automatically generated, ensuring they receive it within three weeks, the hospital said.
Lucy Nugent, CEO of Tallaght University Hospital, said: “We are delighted to start the new year by offering this protection to our frontline workers with this Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
Nurse Vaccinator Claire McGuire preparing the COVID-19 Vaccine at TUH under the watchful eye of Adele Ward from Pharmacy
“It is a very worrying time for everyone, particularly our frontline workers who continue to face this dangerous virus.
“I would like to commend the team in TUH who have worked so hard to begin the delivery of this vaccination programme, which also includes CHI at Tallaght staff who are located at TUH.”
She added: “This virus has really taken its toll on our people and services, yet despite the challenges the sheer optimism and determination has to be commended.
“Huge sacrifices have been made by the community and our staff.
“I am very proud of the staff, they have gone above and beyond.
“We would ask the community to continue supporting us at what is a particularly dangerous time as the virus is so active in our community.
“Please continue supporting us as you have done in the last year by staying at home and staying safe, which is the current advice from NPHET.”
Trevor O’Callaghan, the CEO of Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, welcomed the continued roll out of the vaccine in TUH, following the first vaccine in St James’ Hospital.
“We have been extensively planning with hospitals and their vaccination teams to coordinate the supply of the vaccine and ensure all 11,000 staff within the Hospital Group can be vaccinated in a timely way”, Mr O’Callaghan said.
“In the coming days, the vaccine programme in the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital and St Luke’s Radiation and Oncology Network will get underway.
“We also are working to commence vaccinations in the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise and Naas General Hospital in the latter part of this week.”
For information on the Covid-19 vaccine visit the HSE Website, Gov Website or Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
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