AN IRISH Senator has issued a call for priests across Ireland to be vaccinated as a priority.
Senator Rónán Mullen has suggested that priests should be classed as front line workers as they frequently come into contact with Covid-19 patients or with their families at funerals, and it is 'critical' they receive the vaccine as soon as possible.
The Independent senator, who spoke to The Irish Daily Mail, argues that most clergy in Ireland are "older, and some of them will feel vulnerable" under the threat of the virus, but are still performing their duties which can involve close contact with patients or their families.
"I was talking to one priest who had three funerals this week, three last week, six the week before, three the week before that," Senator Mullen told the outlet, adding that up to a half of the funerals were Covid-related.
Mr Mullen refused to be drawn on when exactly he thought priests should receive the vaccine, saying it was an "operational matter for the HSE".
Several priests, who also spoke to The Irish Daily Mail, agree that they should have been classed as front line workers from the beginning, as while mass is currently virtual, they are holding funerals and some are visiting the sick, meaning they are still at risk-- one religious order saw eight of their priests die from the disease in less than a month.
However, not all clergymen believe they should be moved up in priority for the vaccine as there are others who are more vulnerable and more essential who are still waiting for their inoculation.
Fr Tim Hazelwood, from County Cork, said "for some people we are essential, for others we are not", reflecting on how he was called by a grieving woman to come and annoint her dying mother. "That was essential to her.
"There would be others who wouldn't think we are [essential workers] at all."
