Local Sinn Fein Deputy Imelda Munster has called on the HSE to ensure that the vaccination centre at Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE) opens for at least five days a week to clear the backlog of upwards of a thousand people over the age of 60 who are still not vaccinated.
Currently the vaccination centre at DIFE is ordinarily open only three days a week.
Deputy Munster said: “We have a backlog of upwards of a thousand people in the over 60 age group who are still waiting for their first vaccine.
“We need to get through this backlog as a matter of urgency to ensure that there are no delays in vaccinating the 5,800 people in Drogheda and East Meath who are in the 50-59 age group.
“We know that the centre is not available next week, and people will be sent to the Helix in Dublin for vaccination.
“We are already lagging behind Dublin and other areas, and this has to change.
“The DIFE vaccination centre needs to operate at least five days a week to clear the backlog and get on top of the vaccination rollout in the areas.
“Staff and local coordinators are flat out and they are working very hard.
“The HSE top tiers of management are not giving them adequate resources and this has to change.
“I have written to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD and to the CEO of the HSE Mr Paul Reid calling on them to get moving on this, and to get DIFE open five days a week to get on top of the vaccine rollout.”
