Hundreds queue for vaccine amid Covid surge

SCORES of local people headed for mass vaccination centres at Omagh Leisure Complex and Foyle Arena at the weekend for their first jab, as Covid-19 cases continue to surge in many parts of Tyrone.

Organised as part of the Department of Health’s ‘Big Jab Weekend’, which saw centres operate across the North, walk-in first vaccine doses were offered for all adult age groups.

This latest vaccination push came as the Derry City and Strabane District Council area recorded the highest coronavirus infection rate in the North with 901.6 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days between August 13 and 19.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area recorded the highest infection rate with 1,034.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Both are well above the average for the North, which currently stands at 605.2 cases per 100,000 people.

With the numbers of positive cases ramping up, hundreds of people endured a long wait in the rain at Omagh Leisure Centre on Saturday to get the jab.

Glenelly teenager, Eoghan McConnell (18), said he was getting the vaccine to help life return to normal, adding that he was looking forward to a return to socialising with his friends. And Strabane man, Jordan Devine, said he had missed other vaccine options and was glad of this opportunity.

The Western Health Trust has confirmed a total of 3,850 vaccines were administered at its three centres in Omagh, Enniskillen and Derry over Saturday and Sunday with 2,274 first doses.

A spokesperson for the Trust added, “We are blown away by the response from the public and give huge thanks and praise to the amazing effort of our staff.”