Press release
Taoiseach Micheál Martin attends Vaccine Task Force meeting
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended the 44th meeting of the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination earlier today (Monday, 27 September).
At the meeting, the Taoiseach thanked members of the Task Force for their efforts in the National Vaccination Programme since it first met on 10 November 2020.
He was joined by High-Level Task Force chairperson, Professor Brian MacCraith, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, HSE CEO Paul Reid, Programme Director Derek Tierney, and Liz Canavan from the Department of the Taoiseach, with some members joining by video link.
The Task Force has met 44 times since it was established, to provide direction and strategic support to the programme, guidance to Government and information to the public.
Speaking after the meeting, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:
“Close to 7.3 million doses have been administered in Ireland since the first dose was given to grandmother Annie Lynch on December 26, a little over nine months ago.
“91.4% of the adult population are now fully vaccinated and these vaccinations have been key to protecting our communities, our health service and to allowing for the safe and steady reopening of society.
“On behalf of the government and the Irish people, I want to thank Professor Brian MacCraith and all the members of the Task Force for their dedication in helping deliver one of the most successful and efficient COVID-19 vaccination programmes in the world.
“The Task Force, working alongside the HSE’s community and hospital vaccination teams, GPs, pharmacies, doctors, nurses, paramedics, nursing home staff and other healthcare professionals and volunteers, have played a significant role in protecting our elderly relations our friends, the medically vulnerable, our frontline health care workers, and society in general.
“The combined effort saw us through the emergency phase of the pandemic and into this next phase of managing COVID-19."
Chairperson of the High-Level Task Force Professor Brian MacCraith added:
“The vaccine rollout has exceeded our best expectations. But any success that can be associated with it is down principally to two things:
“First, the remarkable response of the Irish people across all age-groups, and, second, the incredible commitment and expertise demonstrated by those responsible for delivering the programme.
“It has been an extraordinary example of human endeavour and commitment to public service.
“It has been a real privilege for the Task Force to play a key role in supporting the HSE and the Department of Health in delivering this transformative programme.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Task Force and all involved in delivering the programme."