Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed the announcement the first stage of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, starting tomorrow, will include care home residents as well as workers.

The residents will be prioritised in the first stage, with the first jabs being distributed to vaccinators on Tuesday (December 8). Deployment to care homes will then proceed in the coming days.

“I warmly welcome the decision to move forward with vaccinating all care home residents as top priority, and not just workers,” said the South Belfast MLA.

“It is essential we protect the most clinically vulnerable members of our society and this means ensuring everyone in care homes has access to the vaccine as swiftly as possible. This is not just as a medical priority to mitigate against the virus, but as a means of reuniting families who have been under the strictest visiting restrictions.

“I share the Minister’s view we need absolute vigilance from the entire population over the Christmas period and over the next few months as we roll out the vaccination programme to include all over-80s and all health and social care workers, and then move into the wider population. It is nevertheless uplifting to see the vaccination programme now underway, and those most impacted by the virus being protected from it first.”