Take-up of Covid-19 vaccines among young children is 13 times higher in parts of Dublin compared to some areas of Donegal, new figures show.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) analysis of vaccine and booster take-up reveals sometimes massive variations across the country and between different sectors of employment and nationalities.
Just 4 per cent of five- to 11-year-olds in Buncrana, Co Donegal, are fully vaccinated, compared to 54 per cent in Stillorgan, Co Dublin. The average rate across the country is 21 per cent.
Other areas with low take-up by children include Carndonagh, Co Donegal (5 per cent) and Belmullet, Co Mayo (7 per cent).
Shooting the breeze with trailblazer chemists
Kamala Harris is a descendant of an Irish slave owner in Jamaica
Tactical analysis: Clare got their numbers right, but it’s hard to measure sheer magic
Artist and shepherd Orla Barry: ‘Breeding animals is like making an artwork. You’re putting certain animals together’
Donegal GP Denis McCauley said Donegal has an excellent record overall on childhood vaccinations but there is a strong anti-vaccine sentiment in the county in relation to Covid-19 vaccines.
“People tend to take vaccines when they know others who have taken them, but in this case it seems some parents have looked at the risk-benefit equation and decided otherwise. I think you also have to take into account the county’s lower socio-economic profile.”
The take-up of first boosters against Covid ranges from 36 per cent to 74 per cent in local electoral areas across the country, according to the CSO. The highest take-up is in prosperous Dublin suburbs such as Rathfarnham-Templeogue, Blackrock and Dundrum.
Ten per cent of the population had received a second booster by the end of July, up 1 per cent from the previous month. So far, second boosters are being offered only to older and more at-risk members of society.
Not fully vaccinated
Take-up of second boosters ranged widely, from 3 per cent to 18 per cent, but this could be influenced by population distribution. The lowest take-up was in parts of Dublin such as Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart, Tallaght South and Ongar with relatively young populations.
Just 16 per cent of employees across all sectors were not fully vaccinated, rising to 22 per cent in the accommodation and food services sector.
The sector with the highest take-up of first boosters was public administration and defence, at 84 per cent.
Seventy per cent of Irish-nationality employees had received a first booster, but this figure fell to 29 per cent among the EU15-27 nationality grouping (primarily eastern Europe).
“Some 51 per cent of employees in the EU15-27 nationality group were not fully vaccinated. Among employees, the lowest Covid-19 Booster 1 vaccination rates were in the EU15-27 nationality grouping,” according to CSO statistician Steven Conroy.
The figures generally reflect the success of the initial vaccination campaign against Covid-19 and the flagging nature of subsequent booster campaigns. The HSE, which fears a renewed Covid wave this winter, possibly along with flu, is stepping up communication urging people to get a second booster before winter.
