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The Taoiseach has hailed a \u201ctruly historic day\u201d after the first coronavirus vaccine was administered.<\/p>\nThe Taoiseach has hailed a \u201ctruly historic day\u201d after the first coronavirus vaccine was administered.<\/p>\n
Miche\u00e1l Martin, Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary-Lou McDonald and Irish Labour leader Alan Kelly all described a \u201cturning of the tide\u201d in the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Fermanagh-born Margaret Keenan, 90, became the first person in the world to have the Pfizer vaccine outside trial conditions in Coventry on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
A short time later, nurse Joanna Sloan from Co Down became the first to receive the jab on the island of Ireland.<\/p>\n
Mr Martin described the development as a \u201cvindication of science as the ultimate route through dealing with this terrible virus\u201d.<\/p>\n
A vaccination program is expected to start in the Republic of Ireland in January.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach was pressed by Mr Kelly during opposition leader questions to address misinformation with social media companies ahead of the roll-out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all as public representatives need to support the scientists who have delivered these vaccines, we must be very pro-vaccine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am concerned about utterances by some public representatives in the past, I am concerned about the impact that it is having on our citizens, I am concerned that many citizens are being fed lies about vaccines at a critical time, that many of our citizens are being fed deliberate misinformation and I am asking you publicly to deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Kelly said his party has written to every TD, senator and MEP urging them to promote coronavirus vaccines.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch of the misinformation is spread on social media platforms.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this city, we have Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Google and Instagram. We need to talk to them, we need to deal with misinformation that is being deliberately put out on those platforms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all changed their algorithms and changed their rules in relation to the recent US election. They need to do so again in relation to the roll-out of this vaccine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin responded by saying he applauded Mr Kelly\u2019s initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to be very strong and positive in support of vaccination to eliminate a virus that has caused such devastation, ill health and death across the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we do need to make sure that fake news doesn\u2019t get prevalence or promoted on the digital platforms you refer to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin said Ireland awaits the approval of the Pfizer jab and also the Moderna vaccine by the European Medicines Agency.<\/p>\n
Earlier, health minister Stephen Donnelly said those aged over 65 in long-term care, frontline healthcare workers and people over 70 will be the first to get the vaccine.<\/p>\n