Patients aged 70 and over in our hospitals will now be vaccinated thanks to policy change – Kyne

Senator Seán Kyne has welcomed confirmation that patients 70 years of age and over will now be vaccinated in the hospital setting following a policy change.

Senator Kyne said: “At last week’s meeting of the Oireachtas Health Committee, I raised this matter when I questioned the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly about the vaccination policy within our hospitals.

“Minister Donnelly said it makes sense that they would be vaccinated and assured me he would check the matter out.

“At today’s Oireachtas Health Committee meeting, I’ve received confirmation from the CEO of the HSE, Mr Paul Reid, that the policy has now changed and vaccinations have started for those aged 70 and over who are in the hospital setting.”

Senator Kyne raised the case last week of an 89-year-old who had been in hospital for three weeks who had not been vaccinated and under the then HSE policy wouldn’t be until she was discharged back to the community.

Senator Kyne said that some patients contracted COVID in hospital and the fact that patients aged 70 and over wouldn’t be vaccinated, despite being clinically fine to receive the vaccine, made no sense.

“I am glad that there has been a policy change following my raising of the matter last week and I welcome Mr Paul Reid’s confirmation that vaccinations for patients aged 70 and over will now proceed in the hospital setting,” Senator Kyne concluded.

ENDS