23 July 2021
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines available in 44 Cork Pharmacies
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 VOCID19 vaccine is now available in 44 pharmacies in Cork, the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has revealed, and the IPU is now calling for this to be extended, so that all pharmacies registered to administer COVID 19 vaccines have access to the Pfizer vaccine.
Pharmacies started vaccinating in mid-June and to date have administered over 123,000 vaccines nationwide. This has predominantly been the Janssen vaccine, available to people aged 18 to 34 and to people 50 years and older in over 950 pharmacies nationwide. A smaller number of pharmacies, chosen because of their distance to the nearest vaccine centre, are also offering the Pfizer vaccine to patients aged 18 and over, in line with the HSE Vaccination Centres.
Darragh O’Loughlin, Secretary General of the IPU said “Pharmacists are trained, experienced vaccinators and, after long campaigning to be able to vaccinate their local communities, are delighted to finally have the opportunity to support the vaccination campaign. Now the people of Cork can receive a vaccine in the convenience and comfort of their local pharmacy. People can book an appointment directly with their local pharmacy and, when called, attend at a set time and be on their way home all within 30 minutes.
“Since pharmacists began administering COVID 19 vaccines there has been universally positive feedback and a huge level of demand from all age groups. Pharmacists are delighted to be supporting this national campaign.
“The ongoing level of demand will need to be matched by supply or pharmacies will be forced to suspend vaccinations. We know that supplies of the Janssen vaccine may be limited for a time, therefore we are calling for all participating pharmacies to be provided supplies of the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine as well.
“Now that the eligibility for vaccines has been expanded to younger age groups, the challenge of getting to vaccination centres will become amplified. Younger people are less likely to have access to a car, often have childcare constraints and may have less flexible employment. Convenience will be key to completing the vaccination campaign and that is what local pharmacies offer.
“Over half of the Irish population lives within one kilometre of a pharmacy and 85% live within 5km. Expanding pharmacy vaccinations would create over 950 vaccination locations in practically every town and village in the country.”
Darragh O’Loughlin, Secretary General of the IPU, concluded “The full reopening of our society depends on the pace of the vaccine roll-out. By utilising the proven capacity of pharmacies in full that pace can significantly increase.”
List of participating pharmacies in Cork
Abbey Pharmacy, Mitchelstown
Boots, Macroom
Boots, Mitchelstown
Boots, Bandon
Boots, Midleton
Brosnans Pharmacy, Midleton
Carrigtwohill Pharmacy, Carrigtwohill
Castle Pharmacy, Castlemartyr
CHC Pharmacy, Charleville
Chemco Pharmacy, Bandon
Clearys Pharmacy, Skibbereen
Clockgate Pharmacy, Youghal
Coachford Pharmacy, Coachford
Cobh Pharmacy, Cobh
Deasy’s CarePlus, Macroom
Deasys Pharmacy, Macroom
Doneraile Pharmacy, Doneraile
Drimoleague Pharmacy, Drimoleague
Drinagh Pharmacy, Dunmanway
Duffy’s Pharmacy, Castletownroche
Glengarriff Pharmacy, Glengarriff
Hamiltons Pharmacy, Skibbereen
Haven Pharmacy Burkes, Macroom
Railway View Pharmacy, Macroom
Lloyds Pharmacy, Charleville
Lyons Family Pharmacy, Fermoy
Mari Mina Pharmacy, Rathcormac
Matt Murphy Pharmacy, Macroom
McCauley Health & Beauty, Fermoy
Moloney’s Pharmacy, Kinsale
Mullins Pharmacy, Charleville
Murphys Pharmacy, Midleton
O’Connor’s Pharmacy, Kinsale
Owenacurra Pharmacy, Midleton
Pharmacy FirstPlus Glanmire, Glanmire
Pharmacy FirstPlus Tower, Blarney
Phelans Pharmacy, Glanmire
Reens Pharmacy, Millstreet
Scannells Pharmacy, Ballineen
Sheehan’s Pharmacy, Newmarket
Stack’s Allcare, Fermoy
Thornhills Pharmacy, Kildorrery
Walshs Pharmacy, Fermoy
Youghal Pharmacy, Youghal