Walk-in Covid vaccinations being offered in Athlone this weekend
Walk-in Covid-19 vaccinations, and walk-in testing for the virus, will be available at different sites in Athlone during certain times in the coming days.
Up until this point, Covid-19 vaccinations have been given by appointment only, but the HSE announced that it would be operating walk-in vaccine clinics over the August bank holiday weekend for people who have not yet received their first jab.
At Athlone's vaccination centre, in the AIT International Arena, people aged 16 and over can get a vaccination without an appointment this Sunday, August 1, between 9am and 7pm.
A HSE spokesperson said the walk-in service was being provided to help ensure that getting the vaccine was "easy and convenient" for people.
"All Covid-19 vaccines are free of charge and will give you protection from Covid-19," said the spokesperson.
Walk-in vaccine clinics are also being provided at the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon (from 11am to 4pm this Saturday, Sunday and Monday), at the Bloomfield House Hotel in Mullingar (9am to 4pm on Saturday & 9am to 1pm on Monday) and at the Tullamore Court Hotel (8am to 2pm on Sunday & 8am to 8pm on Monday).
People who attend the walk-in clinics will be given their first dose of an mRNA vaccine manufactured by either Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna, and will later receive an appointment by text for their second dose.
Those who have registered online for vaccination are asked to bring a photo ID with them, such as a passport, drivers' licence or Garda age cert.
Those who have not registered online will have to register at the vaccination centre, and they are asked to bring their PPS number, eircode, mobile phone number, email address and photo ID.
Meanwhile, the walk-in Covid-19 testing centre at the former St Aloysius College in Athlone reopened for the day yesterday (Tuesday) and will be open again this Friday.
A HSE spokesperson said 81 people attended for testing at the pop-up centre in Athlone yesterday.
* Details of all of the walk-in vaccination clinics taking place nationwide in the coming days are available here: https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/find-a-covid-19-vaccination-centre/