Have any questions? Feel free to contact us:
D-Doc/Out of Hours GP: 0818 22 44 76
185 New Cabra Road, Dublin 7, D07 FR52
News

COVID-19 Vaccinations - Update for Patients regarding Cohort 4 and Cohort 7

Sirona Medical - Dublin 7 GP Practice > News > News > COVID-19 Vaccinations – Update for Patients regarding Cohort 4 and Cohort 7
  • News
  • No Comments
  • Sinead

COVID-19 Vaccinations – Update for Patients regarding Cohort 4 and Cohort 7

UPDATE ON 3rd JUNE 2021 – WE HAVE NOW FINISHED FIRST DOSE VACCINE CLINICS FOR PATIENTS. 

All patients aged over 40 can now register on the HSE Vaccination Portal for a Covid-19 vaccination appointment. Patients aged under 40 years will be invited to register in the coming weeks, according to age group.

The practice is extremely busy at this time, with huge demand for appointments and hundreds of calls regarding vaccination – we would ask you to read all of the information below before contacting the practice, as most of your queries may be answered here.

  • We have now completed vaccinations for all patients Over 70.

 

  • All patients between the ages of 40 and 69 years will be vaccinated in HSE vaccination centres, and not in General Practice. This applies to all patients in these age groups, regardless of medical conditions or risk category. You can now register online for your vaccination appointment or call the HSE at (Tel) 1850 24 1850. This is a HSE decision, and we will not receive vaccines for patients in these age categories.
  • We have been asked by the HSE to assist the hospitals in vaccinating patients aged 18-44 years, who fall into Cohort 4 (Very High Risk, as per HSE criteria) and Cohort 7 (High Risk, as per HSE criteria). Patients aged 45-69 will be vaccinated in HSE vaccination centres and can now register online for a vaccine appointment.

 

  • If you are a current, registered patient of the practice and you believe that you fall into Cohort 4 or Cohort 7, please read the full details below and complete the Contact Form below in full, so that we can confirm if you fulfil the criteria for vaccination here at the practice. We have limited capacity available for these Cohort 4 and Cohort 7 vaccinations – if you are offered a vaccination in the hospital or another setting, please accept it.
  • Please note that we cannot offer vaccines to anyone in the 45-50 years group, 50-59 years age group or the 60-69 years age group, as per the HSE criteria. If you wish to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, please follow the advice for your age group, and register online or telephone the HSE (Tel: 1850 24 1850) to get your vaccine appointment. Your GP cannot offer you an alternative vaccine if you are in these age groups, regardless of medical condition or risk category. This is a HSE decision and applies regardless of any medical conditions or risk factors. There is no requirement to have a GP letter / GP input to have your vaccination in the HSE centre. You can see information on all vaccinations here on the HSE website and you can discuss any other queries you may have with your vaccinator.

 

  • All other patients who are under 70 years of age, and who do not fall into Cohort 4 or Cohort 7 will be vaccinated by the HSE in large / mass vaccination centres over the coming weeks and months. You will be invited to register based on your age group. Please keep an eye on the HSE website and in national media for information about registering for your vaccination or contact the HSE at (Tel) 1850 24 1850.

 

We have no further information about the HSE vaccination programme, outside of what is referenced above. If you need more information, please see the HSE website or call HSE Live at (Tel) 1850 24 1850.

Cohort 4 Information

We have been asked by the HSE to support the hospital roll-out of vaccination for Cohort 4 and patients aged 18-44 (those aged 45-50, 50-59 and 60-69 are invited to register online for HSE vaccination centres), specifically those who do not attend the hospital or have not been invited for vaccination by their hospital clinic. We have limited capacity to support this request and we would encourage patients to contact their hospital clinics to receive these vaccines in hospitals as planned.

Cohort 4 includes patients aged 18-44 (only) with medical conditions which put them at a very high risk of severe disease or death from Covid-19. The clinical criteria for Cohort 4 is set out by the HSE / Department of Health and we have been asked to prioritise the following groups:

  • Diabetes where the patient has HbA1c > 58mmol/mol in last 12 months.
  • Obesity where patients have a BMI > 40.
  • Chronic Respiratory Disease where patient is on home oxygen, pre or post transplantation or with a hospital admission related to disease in past year.
  • Patients with Prader Willi syndrome.

Patients with Other conditions in Cohort 4 (listed below) will, in the vast majority of cases, be vaccinated via their specialist hospital clinics. If you fall into one of the categories below, contact your hospital specialist / clinic first and ask to receive your vaccine. We have very limited capacity for vaccines in this Cohort and would encourage you to be vaccinated in the hospital as originally planned by the HSE.

Cohort 4 – Aged 18-44 – Primarily to be vaccinated in hospitals.

  • Cancer – All cancer patients actively receiving (and/or within 6 weeks of receiving) systemic therapy with cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies or immunotherapies and radical surgery or radiotherapy for lung or head and neck cancer. All patients with advanced/metastatic cancers.
  • Chronic kidney disease – Chronic kidney disease, on dialysis, or eGFR <15 ml/min.
  • Chronic neurological disease or condition – Chronic neurological disease or condition with evolving ventilatory failure (requiring non-invasive ventilation), for example: motor neuron disease, spinal muscular atrophy.
  • Chronic respiratory disease – Chronic severe respiratory disease, for example: severe cystic fibrosis, severe COPD, severe pulmonary fibrosis.
  • Diabetes – Uncontrolled diabetes, for example: HbA1C ≥58mmol/mol.
  • Immunocompromised: Severe immunocompromise due to disease or treatment, for example:
    – transplantation: Listed for solid organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) – Post solid organ transplant at any time – Post HSCT within 12 months
    – genetic diseases: – APECED** – Inborn errors in the interferon pathway
    – treatment: including but not limited to Cyclophosphamide, Rituximab, Alemtuzumab, Cladribine or Ocrelizumab in the last 6 months.
  • Inherited metabolic diseases – Disorders of intermediary metabolism/at risk of acute decompensation, for example: Maple Syrup Urine Disease.
  • Intellectual disability – Down Syndrome.
  • Obesity – BMI >40 Kg/m2.
  • Sickle cell disease.

Cohort 7 Information

Once patients in Cohort 4 have been vaccinated, we may be able to provide limited vaccination for those in Cohort 7, subject to practice capacity, vaccine availability and delivery by the HSE. The practice has limited capacity for vaccination on an ongoing basis and the HSE has ultimate responsibility to provide vaccines for all citizens as part of the HSE national immunisation rollout.

Cohort 7 includes patients aged 18-44 (only) with medical conditions which put them at a high risk of severe disease or death from COVID-19. The clinical criteria are set out by the HSE / Department of Health as follows:

  • Cancer – Haematological – within 1 -5 years, Non-haematological – within 1 year. All other cancers on non-hormonal treatment.
  • Chronic heart (and vascular) disease – Chronic heart disease, for example: heart failure, hypertensive cardiac disease.
  • Chronic kidney disease – Chronic kidney disease with eGFR <30ml/min.
  • Chronic liver disease- for example: cirrhosis or fibrosis.
  • Chronic neurological disease or condition – Chronic neurological disease or condition significantly compromising respiratory function and/or the ability to clear secretions, for example: Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy.
  • Chronic respiratory disease – Other chronic respiratory disease, for example: stable cystic fibrosis, severe asthma (continuous or repeated use of systemic corticosteroids), moderate COPD.
  • Diabetes – All other diabetes (Type 1 and 2).
  • Immunocompromised – Immunocompromise due to disease or treatment, for example: high dose systemic steroids (as defined in Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland Chapter 3), persons living with HIV.
  • Inherited metabolic diseases – Disorders of intermediary metabolism not fulfilling criteria for very high risk.
  • Intellectual disability* excluding Down Syndrome (already vaccinated in Cohort 4; primarily through support services).
  • Obesity – BMI >35 Kg/m2.
  • Severe mental illness – for example: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression. NOTE: Patients in this category will be vaccinated through the HSE mental health services.

UPDATE ON 3rd JUNE 2021 – WE HAVE NOW FINISHED FIRST DOSE VACCINE CLINICS FOR PATIENTS.

All patients aged over 40 can now register on the HSE Vaccination Portal for a Covid-19 vaccination appointment, regardless of underlying conditions or risk factors. Patients aged under 40 years will be invited to register in the coming weeks, according to age group.