Vaccination opens doors to normality, Health Minister Robin Swann has emphasised.
In an open letter (below), the Minister makes a personal appeal to people who have not yet been jabbed saying: “Please don’t put off your turn. The right time is now.”
He continues: “Vaccination helps us reclaim our lives. We all want to keep enjoying the things we have missed so much - going out, meeting up, enjoying ourselves with family and friends.
“It now also seems that some foreign travel and indeed some other activities and events may require official proof you have had both jabs.
“One way or another, vaccination opens doors to normality.”
The Minister adds: “First and foremost, of course, it is about looking after each other. Vaccination protects you and protects others.
“You might think you are in a low risk group for Covid. That may be true but you don’t know for certain. And if you get the virus, you could end up infecting someone who is still very vulnerable, or experiencing long COVID yourself.
“A small percentage of people don’t get full protection from vaccination. That’s inevitable. No vaccine in history has been 100% effective for 100% of people.
“So we need to protect these people – by doing everything we can to stop the virus spreading and reaching them.
“That means all of us lending an arm and getting the jab.”
Northern Ireland’s vaccination centres are now offering first dose Pfizer jabs to people in all adult age groups – to everyone aged 18 and over.
There will also be mobile, walk-in and pop-up clinics in different locations. Check local press and social media for details.
An open letter from Health Minister Robin Swann:
I want to make a personal appeal to people who have not yet been vaccinated.
Please get your jab.
Our vaccination centres are now offering first dose Pfizer jabs to people in all adult age groups – to everyone aged 18 and over.
There will also be mobile, walk-in and pop-up clinics in different locations. Keep an eye on local press and social media for details.
The push is very much on to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. The Delta variant is spreading and the more people we get double jabbed, the more we will lessen its impact.
So please don’t put off your turn. The right time is now.
It is also vital that people get fully vaccinated, with a second dose of whatever they had first.
Vaccination helps us reclaim our lives. We all want to keep enjoying the things we have missed so much - going out, meeting up, enjoying ourselves with family and friends.
It now also seems that some foreign travel and indeed some other activities and events may require official proof you have had both jabs.
One way or another, vaccination opens doors to normality.
First and foremost, of course, it is about looking after each other. Vaccination protects you and protects others.
You might think you are in a low risk group for Covid. That may be true but you don’t know for certain. And if you get the virus, you could end up infecting someone who is still very vulnerable, or experiencing long COVID yourself.
A small percentage of people don’t get full protection from vaccination. That’s inevitable. No vaccine in history has been 100% effective for 100% of people.
So we need to protect these people – by doing everything we can to stop the virus spreading and reaching them.
That means all of us lending an arm and getting the jab.
We have worked so hard as a society to keep each other safe in this pandemic.
Please keep playing your part – by getting jabbed and encouraging others to do the same.
Notes to editors:
- To book online go to: covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated/
- For those who cannot book online, appointments can also be made using the telephone service 0300 200 7813.
- For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by email: pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
- Follow us on twitter @healthdpt.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.