MOBILE walk-in vaccination clinics are to be rolled out across Northern Ireland (NI) as public health officials claim that a drive to increase the country's vaccine take-up rate could reduce hospital admissions by as much as 50 per cent this summer.
In addition to the clinics, a number of NI’s regional vaccination centres will now be offering walk-ins every day for people who have not booked a first dose appointment.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "A surge in Covid-19 cases is expected to peak by late summer in NI.
“Infection numbers have been climbing in recent weeks, reflecting the spread of the now dominant Delta variant, but a large proportion of the population are benefitting from the protection provided by vaccination."
He went on to outline how the ongoing drive to boost take-up rates even further could lead to an 85 per cent take-up for first doses by the end of July.
"However, achieving an even higher rate of 90 per cent would make a decisive difference, in terms of preventing serious illness and hospitalisations.”
Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Ian Young said: “Modelling indicates that if we could get to 90 per cent first dose take-up by the end of July, that could reduce hospital admissions by half when the peak comes.
“This assumes that everyone getting the first dose goes on to get their second dose, and the fuller protection it provides.
“It would mean hundreds fewer people in hospital, hundreds fewer suffering serious and potentially life-threatening illness. It would also significantly ease potential pressures on our health service.”
Professor Young added: “It should be stressed again that modelling is not the same as predicting. There are other factors to consider, including the extent to which we all keep adhering to public health advice.
“If more people start acting in a way that helps spread the virus, then the peak will likely be more severe.
“The modelling does provide us with an insight into the tangible benefits of further increasing vaccine take-up rate. There is a race between vaccination and the variant – every jab counts.”
Walk-in first jabs will be available at Omagh Leisure Centre on July 5, 6 and 7, and at Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen on July 8.
All NI’s regional vaccination centres continue to offer vaccination appointment bookings for first doses.
To book online, see covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated. Appointments can also be made using the telephone service, 0300 200 7813.