Fórsa has welcomed the proposed prioritisation of healthcare staff and other key workers in the ‘provisional vaccine allocation groups’ published by the health department last week. These groups will be among those prioritised to receive the Covid-19 vaccination once it’s approved for use in Ireland.

Fórsa said the high priority given to frontline health workers, who will be the second group prioritised for vaccination, was expected. The union added that the inclusion of health service support staff as the fourth group was also necessary and welcome.

The union said it would press for certain frontline community sector workers to be included as key workers in essential jobs who can’t avoid a high risk of exposure. This is the tenth priority in the list published last week.

The Government subsequently published a detailed national vaccination strategy, which will see Covid vaccines rolled out by a range of qualified health professionals in three phases, with the highest priority groups receiving the vaccines first. The strategy says vaccines will be administered from long-term care facilities, hospitals, mass vaccination clinics, GP surgeries and community pharmacies. 

The union has sought and secured an engagement over the details of the roll-out process, as it’s anticipated that a significant number of Fórsa grades will have to be involved in the programme.

Separately, Fórsa has also convinced the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) to include reception areas and public counters as areas where the use of face masks should be considered. This was set out in new guidance issued earlier this month. See point 1.8 in this FAQ document.