'More known' in Ireland too - Hospital apologizes after giving remaining COVID-19 vaccines to staff relatives

A maternity hospital in Ireland has apologised after leftover COVID-19 vaccines were given to relatives of staff.

Allegations have emerged that the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital in Dublin had given spare doses of the coronavirus vaccine to sixteen family members of staff including two children of the hospital manager, Euronews writes, reports Klan Kosova.

A hospital statement said the decision on Friday evening was made to ensure no vaccine was wasted after 1 frontline healthcare workers, local doctors and community health workers were vaccinated at the hospital - 100 more than initially planned.

"I personally made every effort to prioritize and identify additional frontline workers and followed all measures available to me at the time," said the hospital's manager, Michael O'Connell.

"I deeply regret that the employees' family members were vaccinated, and for that, I apologize wholeheartedly."

Nine of the 16 people who were vaccinated were over 70 years old, while seven others were of various ages.

Ireland's Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, has said he will demand a "full account" from the hospital.