HSE Chief, Paul Reid has warned the public over an increase in transmission among those aged 20+ in Ireland, and the potential issues they could meet in the future as a result of ‘long Covid’.
He confirmed that consultants across the country are having to refer more and more young people to hospitals for treatment recently, while thousands of the 18+ cohort await their vaccines.
Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland, Reid explained: “We are seeing transmission levels at a high level among the younger population.
“That being said, what we do know is Covid, over the past 16 months, has caused the most harm to the older population."
He said at this point in time, “it’s too early to assess the numbers of people being hospitalised”, but that “after talking to some of our lead consultants across the country, increasingly they are seeing more younger people.
“Our GPs are referring them to hospital and the concern is not just hospitalisation, the concern for younger people is long Covid.”
He said there have been many incidents where people might have be hospitalised and then recover, but the effects of long Covid can significantly impact any age.
Adding: “It’s too early to determine a trend of those 80 or so patients [currently in hospital] but we are seeing trends of younger people, certainly more cases and some referrals to hospital.”
Meanwhile, Reid also confirmed that anyone aged between 25-29 who registers for the vaccine today will receive it over the next three weeks.
Five million vaccines have been administered here as of Friday, meaning 60% of adults are now fully protected against the severe side effects of Covid, while 75% of adults are partially protected.
Over 200,000 doses have been administered so far this week but the health expert warns “caution is still key”.
