Michael Delaney is the first person in Offaly Nursing Home to receive the Pfizer BioNTech COVID19 vaccine

We were thrilled to welcome the Covid-19 Vaccine Team to Ferbane Care Centre on the 7th January. Michael Delaney from Ballycumber was our first resident to receive the vaccine.
Michael spent seven weeks in hospital battling Covid in 2020 in intensive care.  Michael said, “I feel very privileged to be the first person in a nursing home in Offaly to receive the vaccine. Like everyone else I have been waiting for the vaccine so that life can get back to some kind of normality.”

Sarah McBride, Chief Officer of Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare Organisation said: “This is a good day for Nicola Daly, for the residents of Ferbane Care Centre, for the staff and for all in Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare Organisation. The vaccine offers the promise of better days ahead for us all. I would particularly like to thank all of the healthcare workers in Midlands Louth Meath who worked tirelessly to make this day possible. While today does offer us hope for a better future, it is important that we continue to persevere with all of the necessary guidelines to keep safe while the vaccine is being rolled out over the coming months. It is important to remember that by wearing a face covering, maintaining social distancing and practising good hand hygiene you’re supporting frontline workers to maintain essential health services for the people of Midlands Louth Meath.

Nicola Daly of Ferbane Care Centre said: “It was a real privilege to welcome the vaccine to Offaly. Our residents and staff have endured a very tough 2020, and today’s vaccines will ensure that 2021 is off to a brighter start already.

We looking forward to all of our Windmill Residents and Care Teams receiving the vaccine over the coming weeks. To get the rollout of the vaccine in early 2021 is a great start to the year.

Worldwide, vaccines save at least 2-3 million lives each year – and protect many more from crippling and lifelong illnesses. Only  COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorised by the European Medicines Agency, having met stringent safety and effectiveness standards, will be used in Ireland. All COVID-19 vaccines will be carefully monitored over time and updated safety data and information will be published and shared by the HSE, on our website and in our printed information materials.