Dear Colleague,
We hope this message finds you well.
We are grateful for your continuing support in helping to share information about COVID-19. Below are a few communications updates for you, including some new information about vaccination for people who have health condition that put them at very high risk if they get COVID-19.
Public Health Measures
Ireland is at level 5 restrictions.
You can see the measures in place here.
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
The vaccination programme continues to be rolled out nationwide, and more than 536,617 vaccines have been administered as of the 8th March 2021. As we move into next week, vaccination of Group 3 (those aged 70 and over) continues, and we have also begun to vaccinate Group 4 (people with certain health conditions that put them at very high risk). Our hospital and healthcare teams are working to identify and plan for contacting people in Group 4. For now, people in these groups don’t need to take any action.
Also starting this week, arrangements to vaccinate home-bound older people have been put in place in conjunction with GPs, local community teams and the National Ambulance Service.
Yesterday (11th March), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended conditionally approving Johnson & Johnson’s single dose COVID-19 vaccine.
Visiting people in Long Term Care Facilities
Updated guidance has been agreed for nursing homes and long-term care facilities where most people have been vaccinated, allowing for more frequent visiting arrangements. This will provide support to people in our community who have endured a difficult year, with separation from friends and family. The changes are due to be introduced from March 22nd, and the updated guidance is available here.
COVID Tracker app: update and translated videos
The COVID Tracker app now includes the ability to set a reminder to check-in with how you’re feeling every day. The app supports contact tracing and helps to find close contacts you might have forgotten or who are unknown to you, like when you are shopping or on public transport. Using the check-in tool is a helpful reminder if you develop symptoms so you have a record of when you started to feel unwell.
The COVID Tracker app is available in a number of languages. To support the uptake of the COVID Tracker app, we have developed translated videos. You can access the videos in Arabic, French, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and Portuguese on the HSE YouTube channel.
COVID-19 Vaccine Centres
Videos with information about how the vaccination centres will operate are available here.
Infection Prevention and Control guidelines for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare settings during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This guidance is available here.
Isolation quick guide: adults and children from their 13th birthday
This guidance is available here.
Isolation quick guide: greater than 3 months and up to 13th birthday
This guidance is available here.
COVID-19 Religious settings guidance
This guidance is available here.
Putting on (donning) personal protective equipment (PPE)
This poster is available here.
Putting on (donning) a gown in the context of COVID-19
This poster is available here.
Putting on (donning) coveralls in the context of COVID-19
This poster is available here.
Putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing) personal protective equipment (PPE) for health and social care settings
This poster is available here.
Summary of Key Guidance Points for Infection Prevention and Control and Outbreak Control in a Long-Term Residential Care Facility
This guidance is available here.
COVID-19 Vaccination Poster for Travellers
The COVID-19 Vaccination information poster for Travellers is available here.
HSE COVID-19 Vaccination information videos for Travellers
These videos were produced in partnership with Pavee point, HSE National Social Inclusion office, National Immunisation Office and HSE Communications.
HSE Traveller COVID-19 Vaccine Information Video Part 1
- Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe for me?
- Why is it important to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
- If I’ve already had COVID-19, do I still need the vaccine?
- Can I still get COVID-19 after getting the vaccine?
- Where can I get more information about the COVID-19 vaccines – Information I can trust?
HSE Traveller COVID-19 Vaccine Information Video Part 2
- When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
- Consent
- What are the side effects of COVID-19 vaccine?
Applications are now being invited by the HSE for National Lottery Funding Grants
All of the information required, including the application form, is available on www.hse.ie/lotterygrants. Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 16th April 2021.
Where to find COVID-19 Vaccination Information
We encourage everyone to read about the COVID-19 vaccine and to get their information from a factual, trusted source – here are the links to the pages with information on the vaccine:
- Check hse.ie/covid19vaccine for information about the vaccine, information on this page is updated regularly
- Find the vaccine information materials at www.hse.ie/covid19vaccinematerials
- Details on getting the COVID-19 vaccine is updated regularly here
- Read the full COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy
- Read the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Chapter about COVID-19 vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccine information for health professionals
Public Health Information
As always, for the most up to date information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to: https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.
Please check here for the most up to date partner resources for COVID-19.
You can find the COVID-19 A-Z information here from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
Please also check the Healthy Ireland site here with further resources and information on the Keep Well campaign.
You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19 here.
Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.
If your organisation has any requests in relation to COVID-19 public health information materials, please email us at Partner.Pack@hse.ie to let us know.
We wish you good health and wellness. vaccine metrics 11032021
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