All GPs and their staff will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of February, according to an agreement reached between medical organizations and the HSE.
Their vaccines will be given at nursing homes and hospitals and in community settings, according to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).
Some GPs have been expressing frustration this week over delays in getting the vaccine, with many saying that services in their surgeries may need to be reduced due to high rates. of infections and large numbers of out-of-work workers as they are closely linked to diagnosis.
The online registration portal set up by the HSE after it collapsed earlier in the week has also been criticized, although this problem has since been resolved.
Although more than 10 per cent of GPs have been vaccinated, this has arisen through their links with hospitals or by invitation to hospital vaccination sessions.
The ICGP said GPs who did not receive the vaccine must register through the portal before the end of the operation on Thursday or via email in the case of nursing homes.
Dr Nuala O’Connor, clinical director of Covid-19 at the ICGP, said GPs and their practice teams would be vaccinated “as soon as possible”.
“We value the natural concern of GPs in ensuring that they and their teams are vaccinated, and this portal link was expected to be available last Friday. These delays have been resolved.
“The target for completion is the end of February 2021 or hopefully earlier and this will only be determined by the supply and type of vaccines available. ”
GPs and pharmacists are expected to be heavily involved in the distribution of vaccines if the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine, which does not have specific cold storage requirements, is approved by the European Medicines Agency later this month. .
However, they had to be immunized first before giving vaccinations to others.