MUH administers its first Pfizer vaccine

THE FIRST OF MANY Mary Neary, Clinical Nurse Manager 2 on C Ward at Mayo University Hospital was the first staff member to receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine from Dr PΡdraig Ó Lúanaigh, Director of Nursing, at the hospital last week.

The roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign began in Mayo University Hospital (MUH) last Wednesday, January 6.
Clinical Nurse Manager Mary Neary was the first staff member in the hospital to receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. She received the dose from her nursing colleague, PΡdraig Ó Lúanaigh.
The vaccine was the first to be administered in Co Mayo. Over the coming weeks, the vaccination programme will be extended across the hospital and community services.  Between today and the end of last week, over 500 staff were expected to have been vaccinated at MUH.
Commenting, Ms Neary said: “I am delighted to get this vaccine today which will offer protection from Covid-19 and from the serious complications it can cause. I have worked in MUH for over 14 years and am currently the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 working in C Ward, which has been designated a Covid-19 ward since the onset of the pandemic.
“We have seen the devastating effect of this infection on our patients and their families, and 2020 was a really difficult year for everyone working in the health services. As we begin a new year, it is really positive to see the start of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.”

‘Difficult year’
Catherine Donohoe, Hospital Manager at Mayo University Hospital said, “Everyone in MUH is delighted to see the commencement of this vaccination programme here on site today. Our plan is to roll out the vaccinations for the staff working in the Covid areas and to those staff delivering services to Covid-positive patients.
“We expect in a short time frame that we will have vaccination made available to all our staff in Mayo University Hospital. After a really difficult year we are delighted that this vital vaccination programme has begun here.”
Dr PΡdraig Ó Lúanaigh, Director of Nursing at MUH, is leading the team that is delivering the Covid-19 vaccine campaign across the hospital. Speaking last Wednesday, he said: “Today is a really positive day, and I want to thank our peer vaccination team here in MUH for their commitment to rolling out this essential vaccine.
“This vaccine will be provided via two doses. Information will be provided to each person who receives the vaccine explaining the process to them, including the requirement to receive a second dose of this vaccine in three weeks. While the vaccine is not mandatory, it is recommended that everyone gets the vaccine when it is offered to them.”
Tony Canavan CEO of the Saolta Group, which has overall responsibility for the acute hospitals and the west and northwest, explained that the vaccines will be delivered in stages. “We will be extending the vaccination programme across the entire hospital over the coming weeks as we receive vaccine supply,” he said. “This is a huge vaccination programme and our priority is to provide it to our staff as quickly as possible in the safest possible manner.”