With rising Covid figures in the Republic and UK, a group representing pharmacies in Northern Ireland has said it will be ready in case of any winter surge.
It follows an update from the Public Health Agency that a flu and Covid-19 vaccination programme in Northern Ireland will be brought forward as “a precautionary measure” after the identification of a new variant.
The booster programme will begin on September 18 for over 65s, frontline care workers and some other groups.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) first detected the BA.2.86 variant on August 18, but have yet to classify it as a variant of concern.
An increased spread of Covid has recently been reported in the Republic and the rest of the UK, but without widespread testing the true extent of the virus in Northern Ireland remains unclear.
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Gerard Greene, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, said he wished to reassure vulnerable patients if they saw measures like social distancing and protective screens returning to pharmacies.
“It wouldn’t be surprising if more pharmacies are bringing back protective measures as there is more reporting of higher Covid spread in general,” he told The Irish News.
“Whether or not it will return to the same levels as at the start of the pandemic in 2020 remains to be seen, but there are probably some initial steps being taken to reassure the public they are taking the matter seriously.”
Ahead of any potential winter surge, he said: “Certainly from a community pharmacy position, we will be part and parcel of the vaccine programme.
“It’s very important for the public to know they will have quick access to that if they are eligible. That was one of the difficulties at the start of the pandemic when the vaccine was being developed.
“Pharmacies will be extremely busy over the coming weeks and months, that will intensify but it’s just a case of managing all that.”
Commenting on moving the vaccine programme forward, Dr Joanne McClean from the PHA said last week: “There is no change to the wider public health advice at this time, but the steps we can all take to reduce spread still apply to strains of coronavirus which are currently in circulation or emerging.”
