Surge in Covid vaccine ‘walk-ins’

Kilkenny community vaccination centre (CVC) – along with CVCs across Ireland – experienced a notable increase in footfall this week as the Health Service Executive (HSE) urges eligible people to take advantage of the Covid-19 Spring Booster.

With the Spring Booster programme scheduled to end in mid-June, the HSE emphasises the importance of swift vaccination for everyone aged 70 or older, as well as people over ve years old with weakened immune systems.

Healthcare providers in the South East, including vaccination centres, GPs and pharmacies, have reported a surge in demand for Spring Boosters.

Leading the coordination of the HSE’s Covid-19 Vaccination Program across counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, Kate Cassidy, said that it is not too late for those with weakened im- mune systems or compromised immunity to receive their Spring Booster vaccine. “Walk-in clinics continue to be available with no appointment required in Carlow, Clonmel, Ennisorthy, Kilkenny and Waterford, making it easy for people to receive their Spring Booster vaccine,” she said.

Adding, “People’s immunity weakens over time, especially in older people. is latest booster will keep you protected from serious illness and boost your immunity against infection from Covid-19. Vaccines are proven to be your best protection against serious illness from Covid-19. If you haven’t had your Covid-19 Spring booster yet, you’re at risk.”

Aside from walk-in clinics, if you are eligible, you can also receive your Covid-19 Spring Booster from participating GPs or pharmacies or visit Kilkenny CVC at Unit 24, Hebron Indus- trial Estate.

Anyone aged ve or older with weakened immune systems are eligible for the booster, with those under 12 requiring appointments for vaccination at Kilkenny CVC. HSE mobile vaccination teams are currently administering vaccines to residents of long-term care facilities for older adults.

For comprehensive information on COVID-19, visit: www2. hse.ie/conditions/covid19/

National Broadband Ireland (NBI) starts construction to bring highspeed bre broadband to over 2,600 premises in Castlecomer. is initiative is part of the government’s National Broadband Plan, with a €72 million investment for County Kilkenny to provide minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to 19,000 premises. e Survey and Design phase is complete and construction is underway. Once nished, residents and businesses can connect to the NBI network. e rollout progresses across Kilkenny, with over 9,000 premises ready for high-speed broadband.

Full story: Page 6 e life and legacy of a world-renowned scientist who is considered the ‘Father of Modern Chemistry’ and the most important scientists ever born in Ireland is being celebrated through a weekend-long Summer School where science fact and science ction collide and debate and discussion ow. e 11th Robert Boyle Summer School runs from June 22 to 25 in Waterford city and in Boyle’s birthplace, Lismore. e longawaited, four-day event is again expected to draw hundreds of people, including many from Kilkenny with an interest in science, history, culture, debate, discussion and deep thinking.

Kilkenny’s culturally curious and deep thinkers will be preparing to head to Waterford for the 11th Robert Boyle Summer School later this month.

Multiple events run over four days and the theme for this year’s boutique festival which comes almost 400 years after Boyle’s birth is ‘Science Writing/Writing Science’.

Key in the cultural and scienti c mix on the extensive programme is ‘A Science in Fiction’, an open session featuring renowned authors Marianne Lee of A Quiet Tide and Andrew Hughes, e Coroners Daughter which is the One Dublin One Book 2023.