Some listeners to Midwest News in county Mayo are concerned that their elderly relatives have not as yet secured the Covid 19 vaccine or secured an appointment to receive it. The listeners say they are not aware of any 85 year olds living in their community that have secured the first Covid 19 vaccine, as yet.

The government has promised that all over 85s living in the community will have received their first Covid 19 vaccine by the end of this week.

As a consequence, some elderly people and their relatives are growing anxious about that timeline, in light of no appointment, given to date, for its distribution. It would seem reasonable that if a person is to receive the vaccination by the end of this week that they would be contacted about an appointment by today.

In addition people are being confused by an advertisement running nationally by the HSE over recent days stating that the distribution of the vaccine to over 8os is now ready for rollout.

This is compounding concerns by over 85s who are still waiting for their appointments.

Midwest News has sought clarification on the situation from the HSE press office and we are awaiting a response