Tag: <span>Vaccination</span>

So I just got my COVID-19 vaccineimg 20210419 184439 2
Published Mon, 19th Apr 2021

So I just got my COVID-19 vaccine

I was finishing up work on Monday this week, and I got a call from the nurse from my GP’s surgery. They had a spare dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and asked if I could come in straight away.

Apparently I was already on their list of high-risk patients because of my medical history (cancer / obesity), and was due to be invited to get the vaccine later in the week anyway. But because they had a spare dose, and I live very close to the GP surgery, they decided to call me in early.

I was delighted to get call, and accepted straight away, and 5 minutes later I was stood outside the surgery waiting to be called in.

It was the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine that I received. It was administered very quickly and painlessly. I was then asked to stay in the waiting room for 15 minutes (for observation) before heading home.

I also have a provisional appointment for my second dose in 4 week’s time, but that might change if the government decide to extend the time period between doses, to allow for more people to receive their first dose.

I feel very lucky to have received the vaccine early. At the moment, the Irish health authorities are only vaccinating people aged 65-69 and also those judged to be at very high risk because of their medical status. Other adults under 65 face a wait of weeks – if not months – until they can avail of their first shot.

Medication Surgery

COVID-19 Vaccination Vaccines

5 Comments

Obese people to get COVID-19 vaccination earlycdc 3mzqvuxi3ka unsplash
Published Wed, 7th Apr 2021

Obese people to get COVID-19 vaccination early

Obesity has been identified as one of the significant risk factors for people catching the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Here in Ireland, the vaccine rollout is being done in groups, which starts with:

  • Group 1 – People ages 65 years and older who live in long-term care facilities
  • Group 2 – Frontline healthcare workers
  • Group 3 – People aged 70 and older living in the community
  • Group 4 – People aged 16 to 69 who are at very high risk
  • Group 5 – People aged 65 to 69 at high risk
  • Group 6 – Other people aged 65 to 69
  • Group 7 – People aged 16 to 64 who are at high risk

After that, the rest of the population is being vaccinated based upon age group – starting with the oldest people first.

Groups 1-4 are currently receiving their first dose of vaccine, and those in groups 5-7 are expected to start receiving theirs over the next month or so.

The interesting thing for obese people is that:

  • Group 4 includes people who have a BMI over 40
  • Group 7 includes people who have a BMI over 35

According the the HSE, everyone in group 4 should receive their first dose by the end of April 2021, and people in group 7 should start on 3rd May 2021.

Hospitals vaccination lists

I heard today that the bariatric team in my hospital recently submitted a list of all their patients to the HSE – to make sure they’re all included in these earlier vaccine stages. Whether that means people are included in group 4 or 7 I don’t know, but it’s an encouraging sign.

I also heard that the oncology teams have also submitted lists of their current and former patients – which I guess will also include me, because of the Hodgkin’s Lymphoma I had back in 2015/6.

News Surgery

COVID-19 Obesity Vaccination

Leave a Comment