Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 15 Apr 2021
FROM TODAY PEOPLE aged over 65 will be able to register their details so they can receive an appointment for a Covid-19 vaccine.
The portal is open for those aged 69 first, rolling out over the following four days to those aged 68, 67, 66 and then 65.
This is the beginning of the age-based rollout of the vaccination programme, with a similar system due to be used for later cohorts.
As part of our Reader Q&A series, we have been breaking down the latest developments with the rollout in Ireland, trying to answer as many of your questions as we can.
This week the focus is on how the rollout to those aged 65-59 will work – here are some of the questions readers sent us.
The registration system is now online, first for those aged 69.
Tomorrow it will be open for those aged 68, Saturday will be the first registration day for those aged 67, Sunday will be the first day for the 66 group and on Monday the portal will be open for those aged 65.
The HSE has said it is asking people to begin registering on specific days to help manage demand on the system. You will also be able to access this system after those days – registration is not limited to this five-day period.
The registration system can be accessed through the HSE website.
The Taoiseach has said hundreds of people have already registered this morning:
Great to see that hundreds of people have already registered on the new #COVID19 vaccine portal this morning.@HSELive are asking people aged 69 to register today. See: https://t.co/LXV87JtP0a
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 15, 2021
There is a queuing system on the site to manage traffic but it has been moving quickly.
People will be asked to provide basic details such as their name, email address, phone number and date of birth. They will also be asked to provide their PPS number and their Eircode.
The purpose of the system is to register your interest in receiving a vaccine and to make your details available to the health service – you will not be able to book a specific time slot for your own vaccine through the portal.
Vaccines for this group – around 180,000 people – will be given over April and May, starting around one week after registration opens.
The HSE said appointments will be assigned by age, so it does not matter how quickly you register, ie a 65-year-old who registers on Monday will not get an appointment earlier than a 67-year-old who registers three days later.
People who do not have access to the internet or who are not confident with using the online portal can call 1850 24 1850 for assistance with the registration process.
The news this week that the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine be used only in those aged over 60 has caused concern among some who are still due to receive it.
The decision was taken after a small number of serious but rare blood clotting disorders were identified in people shortly after receiving a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The European regulator has stated that these blood clotting events should be listed as a possible rare side effect of the vaccine.
These reported events involved blood clots in the brain, abdomen and arteries, together with low levels of platelets and sometimes bleeding.
Those rare blood clotting events occur in 4-10 cases in every million AZ vaccine doses administered, in which one person may die. As of 4 April, 221 cases of these rare events were reported to the European centralised database. Around 34 million people had been vaccinated in the EEA and UK by this date.
This week Irish health officials explained that someone aged 60-64 is 85 times more likely to die of Covid-19 than to have any clotting event following the vaccine – this includes all clotting events; regular clotting such as those identified in the leg as well as the rare thrombosis.
People aged 55-59 are 48 times more likely to die of Covid-19 than get a blood clot.
Evidence shows that these vary rare side effects have been mostly seen in people under 60.
Currently, the AstraZeneca vaccine is the jab that will be used for those aged 65-69. Those over 70 will continue to receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
While it is up to each individual to choose whether they want to take a vaccine – and they have a right to refuse a vaccine – it is not possible to refuse one and then request a different one. The advice is to accept whichever vaccine you are offered.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn earlier this week explained that while people who refuse the AstraZeneca vaccine now will not be blocked entirely from receiving a vaccine, they will have to wait considerably longer for an alternative. This means delaying protection from the disease, a particular concern among those aged over 60.
“If someone aged 65 is thinking of taking this vaccine if it’s offered to them in the coming weeks, versus waiting for the summer when there’s a surplus of other vaccines, I would highly, strongly recommend that they take what they are being offered now,” he said.
“What’s being offered is a very safe, very effective vaccine for their age cohort. The risks of them catching Covid-19… and ending up dying of that disease are far, far, far higher than any potential risk on receipt of one of these vaccines.”
The HSE has said those who have a history of blood clots in the family, as well as those who have recently had a clot or who are on blood thinning treatments should still have the AstraZeneca vaccine when offered it. This advice also applies to those who have a condition or who are on treatment that makes them more likely to get a blood clot – they should still get the vaccine.
“There is no reason to delay vaccination,” The HSE said. “Like everyone who gets the vaccine, you should be aware of the symptoms to look out for.”
These include:
Vaccinations for this cohort will be done at a vaccination centre, not at a GP surgery.
GPs are currently focused on medically vulnerable groups such as those aged over 70 and those with very high risk and high risk conditions. These vaccinations at GP surgeries will be taking place in parallel to the rollout to those aged 65-69.
When you receive a notification by text message about your appointment, you will get a date, time and the address of a vaccination centre to go to. This will be sent three to seven days before the appointment.
Here’s the full list of vaccination centre locations:
As part of the registration process people will be asked to provide their Eircode, so it is likely this will be used to ensure they are sent to a vaccination centre that is close to them.
If you’ve used the registration system today, we want to hear how you found the experience. Email answers@thejournal.ie.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Statistics show that 100% of people will die when their number is up ….Time to open everything, live the life that you were given, and for afraid control-freaks to stop stealing time from the next generation ….
@Martin Galvin:
Live life to the fullest.. until you get short of breath, collapse and die. Thanks COVID.
@Martin Galvin: the worst thing about this virus is that it doesn’t pick and choose who to affect. It would be great if people like Sir Tom avoided it in favour of people like you.
@Ger: when did Tom Jones die?
@Martin Galvin: irresponsible
@Martin Galvin: I would encourage you take all the risks you like but please don’t advise others to follow you on the basis of your gut feelings. Your life experience tells you that you are invincible but maybe others just aren’t as invincible as you are.
@Martin Galvin: One the one side we have all the medical specialists with their knowledge an experience advising caution and on the other side we have people like you with nothing only an internet connection telling us not to bother with any of that oul nonsense
Who to trust….. difficult one that.
@Ger: what is this Sir nonsense that you speak of?
Has any medical professional explained why the Astra Zeneca is more likely to cause a blot clot in a younger And in most cases healthier Person than it would in an older weaker immune system?
@Cian: the older age group are more vulnerable and the risks are so much greater with not taking the AZ vaccine then actually taking it. The occurrences of blood clots are very rare. The world authorities are acting with an overabundance of caution. I’m an old fella and I’d take the AZ vaccine.
@Cian: immune response is stronger in young people and that’s what causes the clots.
@Cian: a guy on the news said last night that it produces a randomly weird immune response in some people that MAY cause the clots. Most of the people who have had clots have been younger but that’s not the reason why they’re only giving them to older people. They’ve said that the risk of serious illness from covid-19 is higher in older people and not so much in younger people so the risk/reward means its better to get older people vaccinated more quickly whereas we can afford to wait a few weeks longer if needs be
@Paul Furey:
These findings will be of interest. Based on research among the first group to have the vaccines.
@Pat: thanks! Interesting.
I don’t think that ppl aged 6 to 69 who have had strokes or those on blood thinners should be getting the AZ vaccine . U hope they hsve thought that through
@John Clair: Thanks for that, Doc.
There’s a huge amount of expert opinion floating around that disagrees with you, but what would they know?
I’ve thought it through, like you advised, and I’ve decided that they’re all wrong and you’re the only one who knows how to approach vaccination.
Thanks again for saving me from an untimely death. The whole world should be indebted to you.
@Pat Kelly: I don’t think you realise what an invaluable resource the bulk of the Journal comments section is. We are blessed with numerous people who are experts in medicine, politics, finance etc. Some mere mortals dedicate years of their lives to the study of just one field, and often further years studying one part of one field. I mean, have they never heard of Facebook or YouTube?
@Pat Kelly: now THATS sarcasm
@John Clair: 1/250,000 chance of clot from AZ… 1/6000 chance of clot on a long haul flight. I assume you will never travel again.
@Lily Martin: Would you be inferring to those that pontificate from the high stool. The ones who spend days having the answers to everything in life. Except now because of Covid they do it from the arm chair with a can of Bud.
I wouldn’t trust the HSE one bit
@Paul Dolan: I’ve just spoken with the CEO of the HSE and he’s completely gutted by your lack of confidence in him. He was thinking of throwing in the towel and asking you to take over, but I’ve persuaded him to soldier on for the time being.
@Terry Larkin: priceless comment.. put a smile on my face this morning
@Paul Dolan: cool story bro
@Paul Dolan: you trust the vaccines though….and wouldn’t say no to one …I guess?
Do I take it that everyone who doesn’t want to take the vaccine is never going to get on an aeroplane, or even in a car again, as it is more likely to kill you than the vaccine itself? You don’t have to take it if you don’t want to, we all have a choice.
75% of me feels 65 today, can I get 1/2 the vaccine?
If you are in the 60 to 65 age group but do not register as you don’t want to take the Astra Zeneca vaccine then is it is possible to register later when we have a surplus of other vaccines?
@Irene Kealy: You will be able to register and you will be offered AZ. If you refuse it, you will simply go to the back of the queue to wait for one of the others but why on earth would you do that? After dodging the dreaded virus for over a year now, why refuse a solution now and possibly die while you’re waiting for a different solution ?
I’m 69, I registered this morning and I’ll take it in the nuts if that’s how they would like to give it. Any jab will do.
@Irene Kealy: The majority of blood clotting cases were in under 60s because of the immune response, but even then the risk of dying is 1 in a million. You are 85 times more likely to dye from covid if you’re older than 60. Waiting for a different vaccine puts you in danger, the az one is very safe.
Surely it should only take a week to do 180,000 and not be spread over April and May?
@Sam Harms: my neighbour who is 72 is still waiting for his first vaccine and some of his friends are also waiting so I would be surprised if they complete the 65 to 70′s in the time frame they claim they will do it.
Signed up this morning. It was so easy and took about 3 minutes. More than happy to take whatever vaccine is offered. One takes a risk crossing the road, so even the AZ vaccine is far less risky than the risks associated with Covid.
No doubt the usual critics – Alan Kelly, Mary Lou etc- will try to find something to criticise with the rollout. It really must be wonderful inhabiting the perfect Narnia world of opposition politics.
What about the over 70s these are not yet vaccinated
@vanc: Did u not read the above article they are still being vaccinated by their GP the 60 to 69 are going to the big centres for their jab so nothing to do with the over 70
@Sheila McNulty: what if you don’t drive.and public transport is not close by
@Shirley Hollingsworth: You do what you do to to collect your pension every week, or to do your weekly shopping, or to get to mass/the dentist/the local brothel/the pub/the barber or hairdresser. No brainer really – if you think about it.
@Terry Larkin: Those are all local services within walking distance. People often have their pensions paid into their bank account. They don’t have to walk long distances to get them.
It’s crazy!! Still so many people who are high risk, or very high risk, but not getting their vaccine as they as late teens or early 20s…..they need protection more than a healthy 65 year old!!!
@Eoghan Deegan: both need protection. A healthy 65 year old is fifty times more likely to die of Covid than a healthy thirty year old. The health authorities have deemed all younger people, including those with high risk conditions are more at risk from the rare blood clots. Younger people will get a mrna vaccine which is looking more effective so a wait of a couple of weeks may well be worth it. Because of the age risk, we will get the questionable AZ vaccine. I’m not really happy about this. I feel the AZ vaccine is not as effective and is especially poor against variants. I’ll take it as I’m over 65 but I’m hoping we might be offered a more effective second jab.
So now that all elderly people at home and in homes or hospitals are vaccinated .and some die.there is no post test done on their body to see what they died from.just presumed old age…so I was wondering would it not be important to examine these bodies (rip), to see as the vaccines are pretty new if there was any connection..a lot of people have died since vaccination .and testing on adults could not be a better way to test the vaccine..why is this.
@Shirley Hollingsworth: old age would be 1 they could have underlying condition as many people in the older age category do The vaccine is not going to keep any of us alive but it will protect us from getting bad Covid or dying from it
I am wondering when can a 59 year old register on the portal? I presumed it was on Wednesday but it is still for 60-69 year olds.
Thanks.
have your say