Lowry: Tipp people must be allowed to receive vaccines in adjoining counties

Deputy Michael Lowry says that people from Tipperary must be allowed to cross into other counties in order to be vaccinated.

It was confirmed on Monday that two Vaccination Centres will serve Tipperary in the rollout of the Covid vaccine. One will be based in the Abbey Court in Nenagh, while the other will be in the Clonmel Park Hotel.

"Tipperary is a big county. The census figures for 2016 registered a population of 159,554 people, although it is estimated that this figures dropped somewhat in the years immediately following that census," says Deputy Lowry.

"Tipperary is bordered by no less than eight other counties, namely Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Clare, Kilkenny, Offaly and Laois. A significant number of people will find themselves closer to Vaccination Centres in neighbouring counties and should not be prevented from attending these centres. The main objective must be to make the vaccine as accessible to people as possible.

“I am concerned that Vaccination Centres in neighbouring counties could exclude people outside their GP catchment, the county where they are based or outside the relevant Community Health Area. This would be totally unacceptable and cause unnecessary difficulty for people accessing the Covid vaccine.

"The time to address these practical matters is now, before the vaccine rollout gets under way. I very much welcome the news that Centres have been selected and have been made known. However we also need to ensure the public is facilitated with ease of access in conjunction with facilitating the HSE with the rollout of the vaccine."