IRISH Olympic and Paralympic athletes will all be offered a Covid-19 vaccination ahead of travelling to Tokyo to compete in the Games this summer it was confirmed today.
The Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland issued a joint statement this afternoon confirming that Pfizer Biontech will provide Covid-19 vaccinations for all Irish Olympic and Paralympic teams ahead of their travel to Tokyo.
Olympic Federation of Ireland President, Sarah Keane said: “I would like to thank the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on behalf of Team Ireland for this very significant breakthrough.
“It provides the athletes and support staff who work so hard to represent us internationally with the appropriate level of care in advance of the Games.”
President of Paralympics Ireland, John Fulham added: “To be able to provide the necessary level of care for our athletes and staff, as they seek to perform at the highest level, has been our primary concern.
“We have been working tirelessly in seeking the best solutions, conscious of the broader societal pressures at this time, ensuring those most vulnerable took priority.”
The vaccinations, which will be available for accredited Irish Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their support teams expecting to travel to Tokyo, which will amount to hundreds of people, will be made available directly by Pfizer Biontech.
It will be supplementary to any existing delivery agreements between Pfizer and the Irish Government.