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THE vaccine booster roll-out is set to be accelerated locally with Omagh Leisure Centre being used as a mass vaccination centre once again.
Everyone aged 30 and above who have had their second dose of the vaccine at least three months ago will be able to book appointments from tomorrow (Wednesday). There will also be limited walk-in capacity every day.
The Western Trust also announced there will be extended opening hours from 9am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sundays until December 23.
Children aged 12-17 are now also eligible for a Covid-19 Vaccine second dose, 12 weeks after their first dose.
Anyone aged 12+ who haven’t yet received a first dose remain a priority group, as are those who for whatever reason did not get their second dose when it was due, the Trust has said.
As has been the case since the beginning of the vaccination programme, the mass vaccination centre will rotate between the Lakeland Forum in Enniskillen and Omagh Leisure Centre every seven days. It will remain at Omagh from December 15 to 28 and rotate from then.
The Trust centres are geared for capacity of approximately 1600 vaccinations per day and 1200 on shorter days across two open centres.
Robin Swann, the health minister, has described the booster campaign as a “herculean effort” to combat the growing number of cases of the Omicron variant.
He said, “Faced with this emergency, the booster programme’s timetable has now been decisively shortened and intensive work will be required to further ramp up capacity. I am very pleased to see people coming forward in large numbers for their boosters.
“I would appeal for patience in the event of any queues. Please be assured that vaccinator teams are working flat out and initiatives are being finalised to help speed up provision.”
Further information on the mass vaccination centre timetables in the Western Trust can be viewed here.
For information on local pharmacies participating in the vaccination programme, please click here.
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