Dr Gerry O’Mara, first staff member Roscommon University Hospital to receive COVID-19 vaccine

The roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign began in Roscommon University Hospital on Wednesday January 6th. Dr Gerry O’Mara, Consultant Physician was the first staff member in the hospital to receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

Dr O’ Mara received the vaccine from his nursing colleague, Siobhan Carty, Clinical Nurse Manager 1 and Peer Vaccinator.  The vaccine was the first to be administered in County Roscommon and over the coming weeks the vaccination programme will be extended across the hospital and community services.   Between today and the end of this week, the team at RUH expect to administer up to 500 vaccines.

Commenting, Dr Gerry O’Mara 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 RUH for over 18 years and across the health service we have seen the devastating effect of this infection on our patients and their families and 2020 was a really difficult year. As we begin a new year, it is really positive to see the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.”

Mary Garvey, Hospital Manager at Roscommon University Hospital, said, “Everyone in RUH is delighted to see the commencement of this vaccination programme here on site today. Our plan this week is to vaccinate as much of our staff as we can. After a really difficult year we are delighted that this vital vaccination programme has begun here in Roscommon University Hospital and we look forward to its further roll-out across the wider community.”

Ursula Morgan, Director of Nursing at Roscommon University Hospital whose team is delivering the COVID-19 vaccine campaign across the hospital said, “2020 has been a very difficult year for everyone including health care staff. Today is a really positive day and I want to thank our peer vaccination team here in RUH for their commitment to rolling out this essential vaccine. This vaccine will be provided via 2 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 3 weeks. While the vaccine is not mandatory, it is recommended that everyone gets the vaccine when it is offered to them. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine should protect from the serious complications of COVID-19 and reduce the illness and deaths caused by this virus.”

Commenting Tony Canavan CEO of the Saolta Group which has overall responsibility for the acute hospitals and the west and north west said, “Today is a really important day for Roscommon University Hospital and we are delighted that we have commenced the roll-out of this critical vaccination programme in the hospital.  The vaccines will be delivered in stages and we will be extending the vaccination programme across the entire hospital over the coming weeks as we receive vaccine supply. This is a huge vaccination programme and our priority it to provide it to our staff as quickly as possible in the safest possible manner.”

Concluding Paul Hooton, Saolta Group Chief Group Director of Nursing and Midwifery said, “We began the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign last week in University Hospital Galway and today we have begun vaccination clinics across all Saolta Group hospitals, including Roscommon University Hospital. We are working hard across each of our hospitals in the Saolta Group to ensure that this critical vaccine is provided to all staff as soon as possible.”