Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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798. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the operation of pop-up vaccination centres; and the uptake at these centres since the start of the 2021-2022 academic year. [49627/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Walk-in vaccination clinics in higher educational institutions launched w/c of 27 September 2021. The HSE has worked jointly with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and other partner educational organisations to offer an expanded range of walk-in vaccination clinics, in existing vaccination clinic locations and in temporary pop-up vaccination clinics in a range of third-level educational settings.

The aim was to maximise vaccine uptake in those who have not yet availed of vaccination, including international students. The focus was on accessibility and positive promotion of vaccination, which is supported through a dedicated national and local communications campaign.

The campaign involved 30 third-level institutions. Temporary vaccination sites were set up in 15 sites in total, serving 20 higher educational sites. In addition, 7 existing HSE Central Vaccination Clinics (CVCs) are located on, or close to third-level educational institutions. This has allowed an additional 10 higher educational institutions to conveniently access vaccination at existing vaccination sites.

As of 5 October, 2,356 vaccines have been delivered at third-level pop-up sites. 979 vaccines were delivered in CVC walk-in sites. In total 3,335 were delivered. The pop-ups are primarily aimed at third-level students and staff but walk-ins are also welcomed.