NUI Galway will be one of nine third level locations across the State which will host pop up vaccination centres, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, announced this morning.
The clinics will provide first or second doses and will be provided to both students and staff. The aim is to maximise vaccine uptake in those who have not yet availed of vaccination, including international students.
The pop-up vaccination centre at NUIG will be operational from next Monday, and it comes as thousands of students are in the process of returning to, or starting in, college for the first time.
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The move has been welcomed by both Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton and Senator Sean Kyne.
“Vaccination is our best response to Covid-19 and the greater uptake of vaccination the greater the protection afforded to the population as a whole,” said Minister Naughton. “There has been a hugely positive uptake of the vaccine by our younger population and this clinic will ensure we cover as many people as possible in a convenient location.”
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Senator Kyne, who is a member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said that, while Ireland “is a world leader in terms of vaccine uptake, these pop up vaccination centres will provide additional opportunities for those to get a first vaccine dose or complete their vaccination”.
However, Minister Naughton said it was still vital that people continue to wear facemasks where appropriate. To that end, free masks will also be provided at more than 200 educational settings, starting next week.
