The HSE plan to prioritise frontline workers in the vaccine process as Dublin firefighters are to get Covid jabs as soon as next week.
This comes after numerous staff members of Dublin Fire Brigade tested positive for Covid-19 in recent weeks but the frontline heroes have faced delays in the vaccine rollout.
Thankfully, the HSE has confirmed to SIPTU that the “sequencing ladder” to prioritise frontline workers will be “strictly adhered to.”
DFB SIPTU rep Shane McGill said: "The sequencing programme as laid out by the HSE will now be adhered to as strictly as they can.
"That gives us great hope that our lads will be done fairly quick.
"Paramedics in DFB and around the country are at the top of the sequencing ladder, they're 1B, just slightly after the nursing homes.
"So if they stick to what they say in the letter and what was relayed to SIPTU, our lads should start getting done by early next week."
As many as 15 DFB frontline workers have tested positive since the 15th of January this year - they are among the 123 staff who have contracted the virus since last March.
They raised concerns that many of their staff have not received a vaccine despite working on the frontline, and other groups such as staff of KPMG were prioritised over them.
A total of 70 Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics were out of work this week due to special COVID-leave.
Dublin City Council were heavily criticised for their failure to prioritise vaccinations for the majority of Dublin's 1,100 fire services personnel.
But a fresh delivery of the Astra-Zeneca shots is expected this weekend.
DFB SIPTU rep Shane McGill says it’ll help to improve the availability of the jab for their members.
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