95-year-old John Cremin has become the first resident of a residential facility in Kerry to be vaccinated against COVID-19
John, who's originally from Knocknagree in North Cork, received the vaccination at Killarney Community Hospital this morning where the first COVID-19 vaccinations for residents and staff began.
The vaccinations mark the beginning of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare’s vaccination programme for staff and residents of long-term residential facilities.
John, who has been a resident at Killarney Community Hospital since 2013, says he is looking forward to a time when he can have visitors again.
Director of Nursing Máire Flynn was the first staff member at the hospital to be vaccinated.
The roll-out programme will see teams from Cork Kerry Community Healthcare travel to more than 100 locations across Cork and Kerry to vaccinate residents and staff in private nursing homes and the voluntary sector.
They expect to vaccinate more than 3,500 staff and residents next week alone,and say the programme will accelerate in the following weeks.
Director of Nursing Máire Flynn who was the first staff member to be vaccinated said: “I am delighted that we are receiving the vaccine, and so happy for our residents and our staff. We are so grateful to everyone who has made this happen, and so happy to be a part of this. Our residents are very excited, and are thrilled to be getting something that gives us all new hope for 2021. The important thing about these vaccinations is that they will help us to keep our residents safe.”
Elaine Sheehan is assistant director of nursing at Killarney Community Hospital, and part of the team of vaccinators delivering the first vaccines today. She said she’s delighted to be part of the team rolling out the vaccine and keeping residents safe.
Vaccinations will continue at Killarney Community Hospital today, tomorrow and into Saturday as vaccinators work to offer the vaccine to approximately 200 staff and more than 90 residents.
The aim is to have both doses of the vaccination available to all the staff and residents of such facilities by the end of February.
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