All GPs to have Covid-19 vaccination by 14 February

All GPs and practice nurses will have either completed their Covid-19 vaccination schedule or have received their first  dose by 14 February.

The assurance comes as mass vaccination clinics for GPs and practice staff are planned for 13and 14 February in Dublin, Portlaoise, Galway and Sligo.

The information was communicated to GPs recently in a letter from IMO GP Chairman Dr Denis McCauley and ICGP Covid-19 Lead Dr Nuala O’Connor, seen by the Medical Independent (MI).

Not all practice staff will have been vaccinated by this point but a large number will have received their vaccine, according to the letter.

“A significant cohort of other practice team members will be vaccinated by that date, however it is acknowledged that not all practice team members excluding GPs and 
practice nurses will be facilitated within the clinics given the limitations of supply,” the letter states.

“For team members who do not receive an invite to attend, once they have registered on national portal, it is important to note that they will receive an invite from the HSE through the acute system in line with sequencing.”

They acknowledged that “these past weeks have been challenging in terms of vaccine supplies and it is likely there will be more issues to face as things progress.”

Four clinics will operate on Saturday 13  February in 
the four locations aimed specifically for staff receiving their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Three clinics will take place on Sunday 14 February in 
Dublin, Portlaoise and Galway for those receiving their second dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Following growing frustration in recent weeks about the rollout of vaccines to healthcare workers, the news is likely to be greeted with relief by GPs and practice nurses.

The completion of the vaccine rollout for GPs and practice nurses paves the way for GPs to begin administering vaccines later this month.

35,000 doses of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine are due to arrive in Ireland next week and are expected to be offered to those over 85s. But guidance from the National Immunisation Advis