AROUND 10,000 people attended Covid-19 vaccination walk-in centres around Ireland on Saturday, according to the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
CEO Paul Reid made the claim this afternoon while visiting a vaccination centre in Athlone.
The centres have been open over the Bank Holiday weekend to those over 16 years old who want to get the first vaccine.
According to RTE News, Reid said half of those who attended yesterday would not have been registered with the HSE’s vaccine portal while two-thirds were under 19.
He added that the success of the Bank Holiday programme had made him consider using the centres again in the future.
'Blown away'
After long queues formed outside centres yesterday, Reid said last night that he had been “blown away” by the reponse.
He praised young people for coming out in numbers, saying they have “been to the fore of changing this country for the better”.
Weve been "blown away" by attendances at walk in clinics. Young people in Ireland have been to the fore of changing this country for the better. Now they've come out in numbers to protect themselves & us. And we're now ahead of the UK for % of adults fully vaccinated! @HSELive
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) July 31, 2021
Meanwhile today’s figures from the Department of Health reveal there are 1,098 new cases of Covid-19 in the State.
There are 163 patients in hospital, with 26 in intensive care.
Northern Ireland meanwhile recorded five Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, as well as 1,072 positive cases.
NI #COVID19 data has been updated:
1,072 positive cases and sadly, five deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours.
2,262,641 vaccines administered in total.
Vaccines ➡️https://t.co/Yfa0hHVmRL
The dashboard will be updated again on Monday 2 August. pic.twitter.com/d5wrvsuajm
— Department of Health (@healthdpt) August 1, 2021
