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Covid: 315 new cases as pharmacists to start administering vaccines

Covid: 315 new cases as pharmacists to start administering vaccines
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A further 315 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic on Sunday.

Meanwhile, there are 62 people in hospital with the disease, including 22 people in intensive care.

In Northern Ireland, another 70 cases and no further deaths related to the disease were confirmed.

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It comes as people aged over 50 who have not yet received a Covid-19 vaccine can get one in their local pharmacy from tomorrow.

Over 1,300 community pharmacists will start administering the single-shot Johnson & Johnson jab to that age group.

It is expected the vaccine portal will open this week for people in their 30s.

Darragh O'Loughlin from the Irish Pharmacy Union says people who have already had one dose of a vaccine cannot go to their pharmacy for the second dose.

Mr O'Loughlin said: “The HSE and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) are not supporting that yet so anyone who has had their first dose of AstraZeneca is going to have to wait to get their second dose of AstraZeneca from the vaccination programme.”

He added: “The vaccination programme has an IT system that pharmacists will be using and pharmacists will see who has been vaccinated and who hasn't.”

People do not have to register online for the service but can book a vaccine appointment with a participating pharmacist.

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