An independent TD has criticised the Health Minister for causing 'absolute confusion' around the planned COVID-19 vaccination centres.
Denis Naughten says yesterday's announcement offered 'no clarity or detail' on some of the questions on how the vaccine rollout will happen.
Yesterday, the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced where the country's 37 vaccination centres will be located, with at least one in every country.
The centres are intended to be in place for the wider community rollout of the vaccine in the coming months, and will be in addition to GP and pharmacy vaccinations.
The Minister said people can expect centres to be "ready and waiting" when vaccines are available to them.
The Taoiseach this morning said the announcement represented a 'very comprehensive piece of work', and the situation will be reviewed if more are needed.
However, Deputy Naughten told The Pat Kenny Show some basic questions weren't answered in yesterday's announcement.
The Roscommon-Galway TD said: "The reality is that the press statement that was issued yesterday by the Minister for Health caused absolute confusion.
“The issue I raised was seeking clarity on who can actually go the various vaccination centres - whether it will be people within a specific geographic area.
“If you take Donegal… can people in south Donegal go to Sligo? Can people in east Galway go to Roscommon to avail of it? There was absolutely no clarity or detail with regard to that."
He said the announcement didn't reference the role GPs or pharmacies will play in the rollout.
He observed: “There was no reference to who would or could avail of the vaccines in the various centres - they are very legitimate questions that need to be answered, and should have been included in the minister’s statement yesterday. The minister brought all of this confusion on top of himself.
“Yes, people will be able to go online and book [an appointment] - but have the people in Co Galway to go to the vaccine centre in Galway?
"Something as simple as that was not provided in the information that was given out yesterday.”
Deputy Naughten believes the vaccine priority list should be reviewed now that AstraZeneca vaccine isn’t being used among older people.
It comes after the Health Minister yesterday indicated a review of the current list could see some vulnerable groups vaccinated earlier than previously planned.
Deputy Naughten today suggested: “Definitely there are vulnerable cohorts of the population that need to be looked at again.
“It is right that review would take place, but I think the Minister should wait until he actually has the detail… going out with half the story at the moment is adding to confusion, rather than giving clarity.”
