As the vaccine rollout progresses, the Irish Association of Funeral Directors has today called for the government to consider 2,500 people working in the funeral profession in Ireland and make them a priority for vaccination.

Conducting their work on the frontline, the possibility of receiving a vaccine would provide an added level of protection to the precautions Funeral Directors already take on a daily basis; when meeting families, removing deceased from nursing homes, hospitals and private residences, attending funerals and hosting private reposals in their funeral homes.

Graham Gleasure from the Irish Association of Funeral Directors says they are calling on the government to implement a dedicated vaccination programme for all Funeral Directors, to offer them comfort as they provide an essential service to grieving families.