Supply is not the only factor delaying rollout.
TMB remain ready to assist government with vaccination plan.
Dr Graham Fry, TMB Medical Director is available for comment.
TMB Ready to Assist Government with National Vaccination Plan
Tropical Medical Bureau (TMB), the leading travel medicine clinic group in Ireland, is ready to assist the Irish government with the national Covid19 vaccine rollout.
TMB reached out to Irish government (March 2020), offering assistance and support, both staff and facilities, to the Minister for Health Mr. Stephen Donnelly, other ministers as well as the HSE.
TMB have not yet been asked to assist the government even though help was offered last year.
TMB is Ireland’s largest private vaccination company, with a team of highly trained and experienced vaccination doctors and nurses, with 20 clinics and drive-thru facilities nationwide and a mobile vaccination service.
TMB was established in 1988 by Dr Graham Fry, who is also a lecturer in Clinical Tropical Medicine at TCD.
As one of Ireland’s leading provider of vaccines, TMB administers on average 200,000 vaccines per annum, to both the private and public sector, in Ireland and the UK.
TMB already provide travel and non-travel vaccination and screening services, to various government departments and to front-line services, such as An Gardai Siochana recruits.
Vaccine Rollout Should and Can be Speeded up. Supply is not the only issue delaying rollout.
Oxford vaccine.
The usage of the ‘Oxford’ vaccine in the older age group should be allowed in line with WHO guidelines. The vaccine is not linked to any increased harmful effects in this age group and the only question of note is whether the same level of protection is provided when compared to those in the younger age groups.
The fact that this vaccine may provide less optimal cover against the disease in this group (and others who are immunocompromised) should not be a deterrent to its usage. The distribution and uptake challenges presented by the mRNA vaccines negates any advantage for this cohort and will seriously slow the provision of any level of early cover for many within this highly susceptible group.
Poor or lower vaccine response in particular groups is a well-recognised phenomena and dealt with in a number of different ways including increased administration schedules and dosage adjustments. There is no reason to suspect that a similar approach would not work for those in the older age groups.
No serious side effects. Protocols around the administration need to be revised.
After millions of doses being administered globally, the reports of serious adverse reaction to any of the vaccines remains insignificant at this time and on that basis the strictness of the protocols around the administration of the vaccines (waiting time post vaccine, use of drive through facilities, all staff trained in CPR etc) need to be revised in order to speed up the administration process. Clear international experience in vaccine distribution and administration (e.g., Israel) needs to mirrored in Ireland to speed up the processes and allow full coverage as early as possible.
Vaccines morbidity and mortality. Vaccinated back to work.
The various Covid19 vaccines have all been shown to significantly reduce both morbidity and mortality after the initial dose but more particularly after the course is completed.
There is a question as to whether transmissibility of the virus is affected by these vaccines, but the crucial issue relates to the very significant reduction in both sickness and death. On that basis (in line with CDC and other authorities) once an individual is fully vaccinated, they should be allowed back into the work force and also provided with unrestricted travel options. See TMB release Feb 3rd, Follow-up Covid Tests Problematic.
Those remaining unvaccinated (for any reason) will need to maintain the standard virus avoidance guidelines until ‘herd immunity’ has reduced the viral load within the population to what could be regarded as insignificant levels. However, testing of their status should be undertaken on a number of occasions before they regain unrestricted freedom of activity within the population.
ENDS
Dr Graham Fry is available for interview. Please contact Niamh Waters, niamh@travelmedia.ie, +353 860492394 to arrange.
Dr Graham Fry – Founder and Group Medical Director
The Tropical Medical Bureau was founded in 1986 by Dr Graham Fry. As the leading Tropical Medical Consultant in the country, Dr Fry plays a pivotal role in the organisation, whether consulting with patients, lecturing to medical students in Trinity College or dealing with media focussed tropical issues on radio and television. His enormous medical experience and expertise in technology have combined to ensure that the TMB occupies national pride of place in tropical medical care.
About Tropical Medical Bureau Group
The Tropical Medical Bureau Group (encompassing Nomad Travel in the UK) is the leading travel medicine clinic group in Ireland, specialists in providing the best information and medical care available for the international traveller. Collectively, the TMB Group sees approximately 60,000 patients on an annual basis, ranging from the private holiday maker to employees of commercial companies, and overseas volunteers to NGO’s and Government departments, all of whom benefit from the expertise of our highly experienced clinic staff.
Since it was founded in 1988, TMB has undergone major growth and expansion to currently encompass 30 clinics, 20 clinics in Ireland (four base clinics and 16 associate clinics). In 2016, TMB acquired Nomad Travel Clinics in the UK. Nomad Travel Clinics has 25 years’ experience in travel health, pharmacy & retail, throughout 10 clinics across the UK.
What distinguishes TMB is our vast experience and expertise, as well as our superb patient aftercare. All our patients have a detailed consultation with one of our specialised healthcare staff. This covers everything from food and water risks, mosquito avoidance, malaria and thrombosis, as well as risks associated from altitude exposure, and also Zika and COVID-19 risks, which may be associated with your trip. Following a detailed consultation, we then decide on which travel vaccines and malaria tablets are appropriate. Our specialised travel medicine software is constantly being updated with travel news, so if anything is happening in your destination that you need to be aware of, we will make sure you are.