This week is a significant one in Ireland's vaccine programme as those individuals aged 16-69 with serious illnesses will start to receive their vaccine jab.
Despite frustrating supply issues, missed deadlines, and mixed messaging, there has been one consistent positive stated by Nphet and government ministers alike, the vaccine is working.
Dr Ronan Glynn said the “really positive effect of vaccinations” has already been seen with a “very obvious and sustained reduction” in the number of Covid-19 cases among healthcare workers and deaths in nursing homes.
“As vaccinations ramp up in the coming weeks and months, we will have another strong tool that will enable us to move through this part of the pandemic. I know it is not easy but please stick with these measures and together we will get there,” he added.
Despite these encouraging signs, the dangers of the disease are still rampant with Ireland recording 525 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday.
Tragically, three more people also lost their lives after battling the deadly virus.
The HSPC has published their most recent Covid-19 14-day Epidemiology Report which details the number of confirmed cases by county notified in Ireland from 21/02/2021 to midnight 06/03/2021.
Unsurprisingly, Dublin has the highest number of confirmed new cases at 3,347, with Meath (434), Limerick (419), Galway (396), Kildare (395), and Cork (310) all recording new cases too.
In terms of incidence rate per 100,000 population, Longford and Offaly are showing worrying numbers.
