We hope this message finds you well.

Thank you for your continuing support in helping to share information about COVID-19. Below are some communications updates for you.

 

Public Health Measures

You can find information here about the public health measures in place.

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

The vaccination programme continues to be rolled out nationwide. As of 4^th May 1,655,866 vaccines have been administered in Ireland.

You can find the latest information here.

For updates and information on each of the vaccine allocation groups, and when and where they’ll be invited for their vaccine, please visit www.hse.ie/rollout.

 

Who can register today

We’re inviting people aged 56 to register today (Friday, 7th May).

If you’re aged 57-69 and you haven’t registered yet, please register for your COVID-19 vaccine online or on the phone.

Register online to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Read the user guide for help with registering online.

If you cannot register online, you can call the COVID-19 helpline at 1850 24 1850 to register by phone.

 

Who can register next

If you are aged:

• 55 – register on Saturday 8^th May, or any time after.
• People aged 50 to 54 will be invited to register from Sunday 9th May.

 

We’re asking people to register on specific days to help us manage the demand. This will make it easier for everyone to register.

 

Groups currently being vaccinated

The groups currently being vaccinated against COVID-19 are:

• people aged 65 years and older who live in long-term care facilities (Group 1)
• frontline healthcare workers (Group 2)
• people aged 70 and older living in the community (Group 3)
• people aged 16 to 69 who are at very high risk (Group 4: 234,000 people at very high risk of severe COVID-19 due to an underlying condition have now received a first dose)
• people aged 65 to 69, including those at high risk (Groups 5 and 6)
• people aged 16 to 64 who are at high risk (Group 7)

You can read more about these vaccine allocation groups in the “Vaccination progress updates” section available here.

 

Vaccination for Socially Vulnerable Groups (18-69 years)

The programme of vaccination for Socially Vulnerable Groups (18-69 years) commenced on 5^th May in the Dublin area. In the first week of operation, vaccination appointments are being offered to medically vulnerable people residing in homeless services.

 

Where to find COVID-19 Vaccination Information

We encourage everyone to read about the COVID-19 vaccine and to get their information from a factual, trusted source – here are the links to the pages with information on the vaccine:

• Check hse.ie/covid19vaccine for information about the vaccine, information on this page is updated regularly
• Find the vaccine information materials at www.hse.ie/covid19vaccinematerials
• Details on getting the COVID-19 vaccine is updated regularly here
• Details on COVID-19 vaccines administered are available here
• Read the full COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy
• Read the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Chapter about COVID-19 vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccine information for health professionals

 

COVID-19 Vaccines Campaign #ForUsAll

Over the coming weeks and months, everyone in Ireland who is eligible will be able to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine from the HSE. The vaccine is bringing hope to our communities, reducing infections, illness and deaths among people who are vaccinated. Over 1.6 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Ireland and the more people who get vaccinated, the better it will be….for us all.

From 8th May we’re launching an updated COVID-19 vaccine TV ad. The ad uses sunrise type light to symbolise the hope the vaccination programme brings. The ad contains messages on vaccine roll-out and safety and encourages people to visit hse.ie or call HSELive for information and to register when it’s their turn. You can watch the TV ad here.

It features people of all ages receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. In the last frame of the ad we show snapshots of a range of people of all ages, filling the screen, representing the real people of Ireland. A special thank you to our stakeholder network for taking the time to record and send in videos.

Please find the campaign pack attached, we would be grateful if you and your organisation would help support the campaign by sharing the messages – full details are in the campaign pack.

Covid Vaccine Partner Pack Final

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Centres video

A video on the COVID-19 vaccination centres, and what to expect on the day of your vaccine, is available here.

 

How COVID-19 Vaccines Work video

A video on how COVID-19 Vaccines Work is available here.

 

Guidance on visitations to inpatient areas of acute hospitals including children’s hospitals, rehabilitation services and other healthcare settings providing a similar intensity of care

You can find the guidance here.

 

Visiting in nursing homes and other residential care facilities during COVID-19: Information for Residents and Visitors

You can find the information here.

 

Religious settings guidance

You can find the updated guidance here.

 

‘Her Shoes’ – promoting awareness and understanding of perinatal mental health

The HSE Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow Community Healthcare has launched ‘Her Shoes’, an initiative to promote awareness and understanding of mental health issues during the perinatal period (the time during pregnancy and the first year after a baby is born).

The initiative aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma by amplifying the voices of those who have lived with perinatal mental health issues. It is funded under Connecting for Life Kildare and West Wicklow and was developed in response to the high level of stigma associated with perinatal mental health issues in the region – which can act as a barrier to women and their families seeking support.

The project is supported by real-life video testimonies of three women who have experienced perinatal mental health issues, these have proven so impactful they are now being shared across national HSE social media channels in order to benefit women across the country. We would be grateful if you and your organisation would help by sharing the information and stories:

You can find ‘Mental Health in Pregnancy’ resources available here.

You can watch Amy, Lititia and Michelle’s stories here.

 

HSE Health and Wellbeing

Take some time for your health and wellbeing by following the new Pilates for Beginners series of videos from @HsehealthW. You can access the new FREE Pilates videos here. These exercise videos are free and available to everyone. These videos are the first in a series of free exercise videos and will be followed by Yoga, Strength and Conditioning and Chair Based Yoga Exercise videos available to everyone. #KeepWell

 

Stress Control Programme
This free Stress Control Online programme has proven very popular and effective in helping people learn to manage their anxiety and stress, which is a significant issue at the moment during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more about Stress Control here. #StressControlIrl

 

START campaign encourages families to take a break from treats and re-start healthy habits

The current START campaign focusses on encouraging families to take a break from treats and re-start healthy habits. New research found that almost half of parents and guardians surveyed said children are eating more treats since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The time is right now with lifting of restrictions and return to school routines to focus on giving treats a break and on restarting healthy snacking habits before the summer holidays. It will be a daily challenge for a while but once the break is made, it will get easier. One daily win can restart your kids on the way to a healthier life. We would be grateful if you and your organisation would help by sharing the Let’s take a break from treats information:

View and share the TV ad here.

Listen to and share the radio ad here.

Share and re-tweet the campaign messages on your social media channels on:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/safefood.net
• Twitter: @safefood_net
• Hashtags: #onedailywin #start

 

HSE Older Persons Services: New National Frailty Education eLearning Programme

A new eLearning programme is now available to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge of frailty and frailty assessments to ensure earlier recognition of frailty, improved healthcare management and better health outcomes. The programme consists of eight modules with expert video lectures. It includes assessments and ‘extend my learning’ pieces for those interested in further learning or who want practical activities to transfer the learning to their local area of work. You can access the eLearning programme by searching for ‘Frailty’ in the search box on www.hseland.ie.

 

National Framework for Person-Centred Planning: Implementation in Adult Disability Day Services webinar

Thursday, 13^th May (11:30-1pm)

You can register for this webinar here.

 

Public Health Information

As always, for the most up to date information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to: https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.

 Please check here for the most up to date partner resources for COVID-19.

You can find the COVID-19 A-Z information here from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

Please also check the Healthy Ireland site here with further resources and information on the Keep Well campaign.

 

You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19 here.

Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.

 

If your organisation has any requests in relation to COVID-19 public health information materials, please email us at Partner.Pack@hse.ie to let us know.

 

Many thanks and best wishes,

COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement

HSE Communications