Hundreds queue for Covid vaccines as walk-in centres open for over 40s

Hundreds of people in the over 40 cohort queued from before 8am outside Covid-19 vaccination centres on Sunday morning.

Walk-in boosters will now be available for the first time for everyone over 40 in vaccination centres, GPs and pharmacies as the vaccine programme ramps up amid the threat of Omicron variant.

There were reports of significant tailbacks on the N7 ahead of the sliproad to the Citywest vaccination centre early on Sunday morning and at the Swords roundabout by the National Show Centre in Dublin and reports of up to 500 people in queues at both of these venues.

The HSE said the National Show Centre and Citywest were both at capacity and car parks were full and they would not be taking any more walk-ins.  The National Show Centre clinic is appointment only this evening. At other centres, such as the Shoreline Centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow, waiting times of 3 hours were expected.

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Booster vaccinations for this age group had originally been intended to begin on December 27, but that has now been brought forward amid growing concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. HSE chief executive Paul Reid tweeted on Sunday: "There are queues in many Vaccination Centres. But we're aiming to accelerate as many people boosted as we can. 290,000 vaccines done in 6 days. 92% of 12 y/o & over now have had D2, 94% of 18+. 1.5M boosters & 3rd Doses done. Every single booster counts for protection."

On Sunday morning Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan tweeted: "Remember vaccines/boosters protect against severe disease. They keep people alive and out of hospital. True of Delta and will be true of Omicron. Get boosted as soon your turn comes."

The HSE tweeted a full list of walk-in clinics open today open for booster vaccines for people aged over 40, healthcare workers as well as for those who have yet to receive dose 1 and 2.

Keep an eye on @hselive throughout the day for updates on on queueing times throughout the day.

The full list of opening times for walk-in centres on Sunday is as follows:

Carlow:

- Woodford Dolmen Hotel: Boosters for 40 years and older: 2pm to 5pm, Healthcare workers: 2pm to 5pm

Cavan:

- Kilmore Hotel: Boosters for 50 to 69 year olds: 10.00am to 12.30pm, Healthcare workers: 10am to 12.30pm (over 30), 1.30pm to 5pm (under 30 only), Dose 1 and 2: 1.30pm to 5pm.

Clare:

-West County Hotel: Boosters for 40 years +: 1.30pm to 7pm

Cork:

- City Hall: Boosters for 40 years +: 8am to 8pm, Healthcare workers over 30: 8am to 8pm

- Mallow: Boosters for 40 years +: 9.15am to 4.15pm

- Bantry: Boosters for 40 years +: 9.30am to 4pm, Dose 1 and 2: 9.15am to 4.15pm

Donegal:

- Letterkenny: Boosters for 40 years + and healthcare workers: 9am to 7pm

Dublin:

- CityWest: Boosters for 40 years +: 8.30am to 12.30pm

- National Show Centre: Boosters for 40 years and older, healthcare workers and dose 1 and two: 8.15am to 11.15am, 12.40pm to 4pm, 5.20pm to 7.10pm

Galway:

- Galway Racecourse: Boosters for 40 years and older: 8.30am to 2pm

Kildare:

- Punchestown Racecourse: Boosters for 40 years and older: 9am to 12pm: Healthcare workers: 9am to 12pm

- St. Fintan’s Campus: Boosters for 40 years and older: 9am to 6pm, Healthcare workers over 30: 9am to 6pm

Limerick:

- Scoil Carmel, Limerick: Boosters for 40 years and older and healthcare workers : 8.30am to 7pm

Mayo:

- Breaffy House: Boosters for 40 to 49 year olds: 8.30am to 1pm, 2pm to 7.45pm, Boosters for 50 to 59 year olds: 9.30am to 1pm, 2pm to 5.15pm

Meath:

- Simonstown GAA Club : Boosters for 40 to 49 year olds: 8.30am to 6.30pm

Monaghan:

- Glencarn Hotel: Boosters for 40 years and older and healthcare workers over 30: 9.30am to 12.30pm, 1.30 to 5pm

Offaly:

Offaly Vaccination Centre: Boosters for 40 years and older and healthcare workers: 9am to 3pm

Roscommon:

Roscommon VC: Boosters for 40 to 49 year olds: 8.30am to 1.30pm, 2.30 to 7.30pm, 50 to 59 year olds: 2.30 to 7.30pm

Sligo:

- Sligo Racecourse: Boosters for 40 years and older and healthcare workers: 8.30am to 7.30pm

Tippeary:

- Abbeycourt Hotel: Boosters for 40 years and older: 8.30am to 7pm

Waterford:

- Waterford IT: Boosters for 40 years and older: 8.15am to 4pm, Healthcare workers: 8.15am to 5.15pm

Westmeath:

Westmeath Community Vaccination Centre: Boosters for 40 years and older: 2pm to 6pm, Healthcare workers over 30: 2pm to 6pm

Wexford:

-Astro Active Centre: Boosters for 40 years and older: 3pm to 7pm, Healthcare workers: 3pm to 7pm, Dose 1 and 2: 3pm to 7pm

Wicklow:

- Shoreline Leisure Centre

Boosters for 40 years and older: 8.30am to 12.30pm, 2.30pm to 6.30pm