Concern surrounding the latest wave of Covid-19 in Ireland is continuing to grow as health experts sound the alarm over potential hospital overcrowding.
The health system took a tremendous knock during the pandemic as over-stretched staff worked to treat the thousands of patients presenting with severe side effects.
Although there are contingency plans in place for another surge, there are existing measures we can take to avoid a worst-case scenario unfolding once more.
READ MORE: Minister Stephen Donnelly sounds Covid alarm as 'figures are quite stark' in Ireland
Today, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said there is cause for concern at the moment but “If I had one message, it’s to ask those, particularly those over 65 and those who are immunosuppressed that haven’t yet got the second booster to do so.
“The figures are quite stark in terms of how important it is for people to get their booster.
“The latest advice I have is of those 600 or so patients with Covid within hospitals, more than 7 in every 10 of them are over 65 years of age, but worryingly quite a bit less than half of over 65 have got the second booster.”
Despite the rising concern, Mr. Donnelly also confirmed that no restrictions are currently in the works, and so it’s down to the public to take steps to protect themselves by following public health advice.
He said: “There’s no public advice whatsoever on any mandatory approaches, and in fact, we are not right now in that phase.
“We are in a phase that is around living with Covid, managing Covid.
“Of course, we don’t know what advice we will get in the future. It is possible that it will change in this current wave, but we have no advice to that effect at this time.
“However, it is important to say that the public health advice is still to wear masks on public transport, for example.”
Getting vaccinated
If you have yet to receive any Covid vaccine and decide you would like to, you can book this online at any point and can give yourself five days' advance notice.
If you have yet to receive any Covid vaccine and decide you would like to, you can book this online at any point and can give yourself five days' advance notice.
If you have recently received your second dose of the primary series of vaccination, you will be able to book in for a booster shot, you need to wait:
- 3 months (at least 90 days) if you are 16 or older
- 6 months (at least 179 days) if you are aged 12 to 15
Then for the second booster, which is currently available for those who are immunocompromised or over 65, you need to wait:
- at least 4 months (at least 120 days) after your first booster.
If you have had Covid-19 since your first booster, wait at least 4 months after you tested positive or from when your symptoms started.
Meanwhile, the State’s vaccine advisory body is considering whether people aged under 65 should get a second Covid booster vaccine, but at this point, it is not available.
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