Tony Holohan concerned at low uptake of Covid-19 vaccine booster
If healthcare workers aren't taking the jab, how can the general population be expected to?
The fall in numbers of people getting Covid-19 vaccines are a cause of 'concern' for the former chief medical officer (CMO), Dr Tony Holohan.
Dr Holohan also said the government should consider having an additional workforce on stand-by in the possibility that another pandemic arises.
The ex-CMO was speaking at a conference in Dublin, which examined the effects of the pandemic on essential workers, where he said that we cannot expect the general population to be vaccinated if healthcare workers are not.
Dr Holohan suggested a trained workforce, such as a lifeboat crew or the Civil Defence, could be deployed to do minor duties such as swabbing, for when another pandemic happens - which he believes to be rather inevitable.
He says that healthcare workers need to manage their health now, in the possibility that another pandemic does arise.
Speaking at the same event, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said they would like to see a full public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event, entitled 'Working in Essential Services: Lessons from Working during Covid-19’, saw experts, academics and businesspeople address audiences. The findings from the University College Dublin (UCD) 'Working in Ireland Survey' provided statistics and research for the conference.