Staff working in the Health Service Executive (HSE) finance department in Co Offaly received Covid-19 vaccines, despite not working in frontline roles, in order to avoid wasting excess doses, the executive said locally. In a statement, the Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare Organisation said it adheres to the “sequencing as agreed by Government when administering Covid-19 vaccines”. The local HSE area had maintained “a reserve list which is activated when there is surplus vaccine available”, as recommended under national guidelines. It is understood a small number of staff from the finance department, who are not in patient-facing roles, received the vaccine. “This is an agile and fast-evolving programme and the HSE is working to ensure the vaccine is administered as fast as supplies allow,” the statement said.

Source: The Irish Times March 18, 2021 10:30 UTC