Two HSE Older People’s facilities in Belmullet were among the first in the Gaeltacht to receive the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
100-year-old Mary Philbin, of Rossport, Ballina and Michael Gaughan of Mullaghroe Blacksod were two of all residents immunised in Aras Deirbhle Community Nursing Unit and Belmullet District Hospital earlier this week.
On receipt of the Pfizer vaccine, Mr Gaughan said “I am delighted to get the vaccine – it is the beginning of the end of the virus and I feel so much better.”
Two local General Practitioners, Dr. Fergal Ruane and Dr. Keith Swanick, were also in receipt of the vaccine, with Dr. Swanick stating “I feel so privileged to receive the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine today.
He thanked the HSE for prioritising frontline workers in Belmullet, due to the area experiencing a sharp incline in infection rates lately.
He added that “Together we will beat this virus into submission by working together in solidarity in the community and reminding ourselves that this is a serious illness that can kill us.”
The comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination programme across Community Healthcare West – that’s across the three counties of Mayo, Galway and Roscommon - will see teams vaccinate residents and staff at more than 100 locations.
In long stay residential facilities for Older Persons, vaccination teams will travel to 66 private nursing homes and 20 residential facilities run by Community Healthcare West to vaccinate residents and staff.
Vaccinator teams will make two separate visits, three weeks apart to provide both doses.
