For everybody, the pace of developments is breathtaking, and that includes the media. There has never been a story like it, and we all hope there never will be again.
A big part of a journalist's job is to try as best as possible to be the people’s witness. The task is to be first with the latest developments, fairly reflect what is happening and try and interpret what it is that matters most. Since the start of the pandemic and especially as it has progressed into a third wave, I have received many emails, messages and social media posts about how it is affecting people’s lives, and various views about NPHET, the HSE, the Minister for Health, the Government and other key players.
A case in point was the news last Sunday morning on the pausing of the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Ireland and elsewhere. When we discuss vaccination, it is important to distinguish between first and second dose numbers because only those who have got the second dose can be considered fully vaccinated.
So by summer, Ireland should look and feel like a different place. The number of cases in hospital and in ICU should be quite low and the number of deaths should be very low too. Daily case numbers should be at perhaps low double digit numbers then. Ireland gets a set proportion of the vaccines supplied to European Commission, under their agreements with suppliers. The Commission said this week that Pfizer and Moderna are honouring their side but that AstraZeneca is not. In this crisis, the reputation of AstraZeneca has taken a big hit.
The story of Covid-19 should soon shift from a shortage of vaccine supplies, to vaccine delivery and the opening of all 37 mass vaccination centres.
FergalBowers The narrative has shifted FergalBowers.. have you not noticed? Nobody is willing to keep up this level of restrictions any longer
FergalBowers Haven't seen or heard one journalist ask important questions. All have been an absolute disgrace
FergalBowers He great asking the scripted question s to be fair.
FergalBowers Excellent article Fergal
FergalBowers If the medical establishment did its job and focused on prophylactics and early treatments so people could go to work - that would be a change The fact that you print this sh1t shows how utterly clueless you are
FergalBowers Changes every hour.!?!? Are you for fckn real? It hasn't changed much for 460,000 people in forced unemploymemt for last 12 months
FergalBowers We're going into week 52 of the so called '2 weeks to flatten the curve' BS. Can't see how they are brighters days ahead, Gov't failed, and are still misleading, NPHET=€. HSE=🤡 We are living in the stone age
FergalBowers Nope. Nice try.
FergalBowers Fakest ever pandemic in the whole wide world but will go on with it as part of Govs agenda. If people only see news from abroad and then compare to the freaky show we’re living in Ireland, they will definitely wake up.
FergalBowers No RTE or newspaper reporter is the people’s witness during this pandemic. You are better than most. George Lee looks to me as if he has joined a cult and has been programmed “households, households, households.
FergalBowers Yeah yeah yeah.... we've being hearing this now for months
FergalBowers With NPHET focus on cases....Best we can hope for is level 3 from end May....Israel has 60% vaccinated and 1500 cases a day....Economy open...Numbers in hospital and ICU more important....
FergalBowers Just how deadly is C-19.
FergalBowers FergalBowers Your reporting, knowledge, and professionalism have been exquisite. People rely on you for such quality of information. In the same vein as tconnellyRTE With Brexit, We in Ireland are truly lucky to have such exemplar. Thank you.
FergalBowers More bullshit
FergalBowers Great article
FergalBowers FergalBowers rte brighter days ahead until june 21st and then they will be shorter again!
FergalBowers “In RTÉ News, there is also a requirement under law, under Section 39(1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, to be objective and impartial in the news output” Rte has been breaking the law a lot in this case
FergalBowers 1/2 Changes maybe but that's not to say our current trajectory hasn't been obvious for weeks now. Reopening schools and not implementing mandarory quarantine have meant that things are only getting worse instead of better and we'll still be in lockdown come July. And articles
FergalBowers Ah yes, brighter days ahead, until we reach the next review, then it will be brighter days ahead once again.
FergalBowers It will, it should, that has been the narrative even now. All while the likes of the UK and US do the job now. It is a depressing abject failure by the Irish government. And still is right now as variants come into the country unchecked
FergalBowers sputnikvaccine SputnikV