Vaccine slowdowns in the Dundalk area caused people in the Dundalk area to think they’d been forgotten in the vaccine rollout. The Dundalk Sinn Fein TD, Ruairí Ó Murchú, raised the issue last week in the Dáil.
The TD raised concerns when he stated that those aged between 60 and 69 should have received an appointment by the end of last week. The following week should have seen those aged between 50 and 59 receive their vaccine early this week.
The news however was overall positive and did help lift the spirits of some. However, Mr. Ó Murchú sought answers from the government still as to whether they would be able to handle and distribute bigger vaccine deliveries into the country in the weeks to come.
He cited the fact the state is set to receive in excess of 400,000 vaccines a week in June. The Dundalk TD sought assurances that the government would be capable of delivering the vaccine nationwide and into the right hands so as to keep the rollout moving along
In particular he was concerned by the significant cuts made to the Johnson and Johnson delivery promises. The TD said that the Irish Government needed to work with the EU in order to ensure supply was kept up by securing more vaccine supplies.
Deputy Ó Murchú also raised his concerns over the border. Dundalk is a town near the border of Northern Ireland, and much of the population is concerned about people crossing the border to access services currently missing in the South.
He said he was fully aware of the health concerns and the risks posed in reopening, however he was also concerned about the potential extra damage that could be inflicted on local Dundalk businesses if this continued. Calling on the government to give a clearer timeline on when and where businesses can reopen to normal service.
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