CSA: 'We can look forward to a more normal Christmas with vaccine'
Prof Ian Young urging young people to use pop up vaccination clinics
Last updated 2nd Jul 2021
The Chief Scientific Adviser for Northern Ireland is calling on the over 18s to visit mobile vaccination sites this weekend.
Speaking to Downtown Cool FM, Professor Ian Young said he is concerned about a recent spike in Covid-19 infections among young people, with cases doubling every eight days.
On Wednesday, Northern Ireland recorded the highest number of daily cases since February.
Professor Young says officials are worried about a potential summer surge:
"At the moment unfortunately, it looks as if there's going to be an increasing number of cases over the course of this summer, we're already seeing very clear evidence of that."
He added: "Inevitably those will lead to increased hospital admissions."
A number of mobile vaccination sites are set to be rolled out across the south Eastern Trust, Belfast and Southern Trusts this weekend.
On Tuesday the Foyle Arena's vaccine clinic was a major success with full capacity within an hour of opening, the western trust says it is planning more in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the northern trust says it will set one up next weekend with details to be confirmed.
Professor Young says jabs are the 'pathway out of the pandemic:'
"The most important thing...is vaccination and that's why we've been so keen this week to stress the importance for every adult, particularly younger adults to come forward and get both doses as soon as possible."
According to Professor Young, we will begin to treat Covid-19 more like flu in the future:
"At the moment we have flu outbreaks most winters, those have significant impacts and we have an extensive programme of vaccination which helps to protect against that, with Covid I hope we're moving in the same direction.
"I think it's very difficult to look forward with any certainty to the autumn and winter, we are concerned about the potential for there to be more Covid spread in the autumn and winter months.
"At the same time, I certainly look forward to a much more normal Christmas and winter than we had last year."