The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is to meet today to discuss booster vaccines for healthcare workers. Up to 3,500 healthcare workers are currently absent from work because of Covid-related illnesses and the Health Service Executive has said this was putting a strain on hospital services.
Last week, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) called on the Government to include healthcare workers in its booster vaccination programme.
The HSE will start the roll-out of booster vaccines for those aged 60 years and over this week. Professor of Immunology at Maynooth University Paul Moynagh has said he is surprised that NIAC has not already approved the roll-out of vaccine boosters to healthcare workers.