Tributes for Clare man killed in London
Tributes have been paid to the Irishman Thomas O’Halloran who was attacked with a knife while on a mobility scooter in west London on Tuesday.
London's Metropolitan Police said the Clare man was slain in a “shocking act” of “unprovoked violence”.
The 87-year-old died after being attacked in the Greenford area of the British capital.
Police said a “dangerous” knife-wielding man was seen fleeing the scene and was caught on CCTV.
In the early hours of Thursday, a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Mr O'Halloran.
Footage of the 87-year-old Irishman on a mobility scooter who was stabbed to death in London shows him busking to raise money for Ukraine months before the killing.
Thomas O’Halloran can be seen playing his accordion and smiling with a makeshift blue and yellow collection box strapped to his frame in the video posted online in June.
Sporting a cap and glasses, he finishes his performance before breaking into a grin when a spectator remarks: “Lovely.”
Monkeypox vaccine
At present the HSE has sufficient monkeypox vaccines to treat only 10 per cent of the estimated 6,000 to 6,500 identified as at risk.
The HSE estimates that there are between 6,000 and 6,500 people at risk from Monkeypox most of whom identify as gay or bisexual men.
While there will be only 600 doses of the vaccine available in the coming weeks, the HSE’s National Clinical Lead for Sexual Health Services, Professor Fiona Lyons said she was “very optimistic” more doses would be sourced before the end of the year and into early next year.
The priority for immediate treatment is people who have been close contacts of patients with the virus, this will be followed by individuals who were diagnosed with early syphilis between September 2021 and July 2022, she told Newstalk Breakfast and RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
Covid booster vaccine
People aged 55 and over and pregnant women are being invited to make an appointment for their next booster vaccine against Covid-19.
From Thursday, those in the age cohort will be able to make an appointment on the HSE website at vaccination clinics, and participating GPs and pharmacies.
Women who are more than 16 weeks pregnant are also invited to book a Covid-19 booster dose.
People aged 50 – 54 will be offered their second booster vaccine from next week and people with long term health conditions will be offered booster vaccines shortly, said the HSE.
Dr Colm Henry, HSE chief clinical officer said “Everyone aged over 55 and pregnant women, should now get their next booster dose. We know immunity tends to reduce after a period of months following your last vaccine so this booster will give ongoing protection from serious illness, and increase immunity against infection from Covid-19.”
