{"id":24371,"date":"2021-12-09T12:34:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T17:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24371"},"modified":"2021-12-10T09:37:21","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T14:37:21","slug":"hse-chief-irish-health-system-enters-christmas-with-sense-of-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24371","title":{"rendered":"HSE Chief: Irish Health System Enters Christmas With ‘Sense Of Hope’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Individuals aged 50-59 can now come forward for a booster jab, with the HSE hoping that the majority will have received either a jab or an appointment for a vaccine by the end of the year (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Irish health system can enter the Christmas period with a \u201csense of hope\u201d, the HSE chief has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, health officials on Thursday warned that the emergence of the Omicron variant had also introduced an element of significant uncertainty despite recent progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HSE chief executive Paul Reid said that hospital numbers had stabilized in recent weeks, while the number of people in intensive care was also more encouraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHope itself isn\u2019t a plan and we will be continuing with the actions we have put in place over the previous two weeks to de-escalate the risks in some of our hospitals,\u201d Mr Reid said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According the latest figures, 532 people are in hospital with the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of lunchtime on Thursday, 150 people remain in intensive care units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Reid said that the country was \u201cstuck\u201d around a figure of approximately 500 to 550 people in hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was, he warned, \u201cfar too high\u2026 for hospitals as we head into the winter period\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Mr Reid offered more optimistic language compared to recent weeks, he warned that there were potential dangers on the horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still seeing significant demand on our hospitals overall,\u201d he said at a briefing from Dr Steevens\u2019 Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been an increase in the number of people aged 75 and over attending and being admitted to hospital in the past week, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These figures were higher than the equivalent week in 2019 during the peak of flu season, he warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health officials stressed that boosters would remain a key form of protection, against both the Delta and Omicron variants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes amid reports of long waits at some vaccination centers on Thursday, as people queue for a booster jab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals aged 50-59 can now come forward for a booster jab, with the HSE hoping that the majority will have received either a jab or an appointment for a vaccine by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Reid urged people to come forward for a booster jab, as HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry warned that a lot remains unknown about the new variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, one case of the Omicron variant has been confirmed in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Henry said that a number of suspect cases are being investigated, but said health officials are under no illusions that more cases will soon be confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Reid said that he expects the number of Omicron cases to rise significantly, with the expectation that it will become the dominant strain of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo reassurance can be taken now at the low levels that we\u2019ve identified here,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen what\u2019s happening in the UK. We expect it\u2019s only a matter of time before we are looking at significant numbers of cases phases of Omicron.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health officials also promised that gene sequencing capacity was now being expanded in Ireland in order to better identify the worrying new variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wider Irish testing system also remains under pressure, with significant numbers of people still coming forward for tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the latest figures from the HSE, one million tests have been carried out in under six weeks, with the HSE carrying out 200,000 swabs a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three new testing centers were opened in Athlone, Swords and Leopardstown last week, with the HSE hoping that testing capacity can reach 245,000 tests a week by the end of December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, the National Immunization Advisory Committee (Niac) recommended to Government that jabs should be offered to around 480,000 primary school children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state\u2019s vaccine advisory body signed off on their use, with the rollout expected to take place from next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health officials said that the rollout would be complex and would involve a significant communication campaign to parents, with the vaccination program beginning properly in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Reid admitted that it would be \u201ccomplex\u201d to identify the children who NIAC has recommended be made a priority, while also preventing any slackening of pace in the wider booster program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know we need some dedicated centers for it,\u201d Mr Reid said.<\/p>\n

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