The first vaccinations by Community Healthcare Wests’ COVID-19 vaccination campaign in residential facilities in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon got underway on Thursday last.
(Ellen) Agnes Bourke a native of Rathall, Crossmolina, was the first resident at the HSE facility St. Augustine’s Community Nursing Unit (CNU) in Ballina to be vaccinated. 91 year old Agnes received the vaccine alongside her fellow residents and healthcare workers in St Augustine’s.
Afterwards Agnes said that having got the vaccine, we might have our visitors coming back in again to see us and that means a big lot. I miss all my visitors and I miss going out – I used to go out and I miss that in a big way. .
In 2021 I hope the best with God’s help that he is looking down on us and the injection should be doing us good. It was very easy – it didn’t hurt a bit.
Agnes had a message for us all in the community, I hope you all get it done before too long, it is worth it. It’s worth it if we get rid of this virus.”
It marked the start of Community Healthcare Wests’ COVID-19 vaccination campaign in residential facilities across the three counties. In accordance with the priority list for vaccination set out by the country, residents aged over 65 in long-term care are among the first to receive the vaccine.
A total of 66 staff and residents were vaccinated in St Augustine’s on Thursday. Next week commencing Monday, January 11th, a further 18 residential facilities will receive their vaccine with the remainder over the coming weeks up to the end of February 2021.
