Helix Vaccination Centre to Relocate to National Show Centre

The mass vaccination centre at the Helix on DCU's campus is to be closed by the HSE in the coming weeks.

The centre will be relocated to the National Show Centre in Swords (at Stockhole Lane, Cloghran, just off the old N1.). The move is to accommodate the return of students to UCD in September.

The HSE expects the relocation to take place in mid-July.

The new vaccination centre at the National Show Centre will be open from 8am to 8pm and will be capable of administering up to 5,000 vaccinations per day. Car parking will be offered free of charge.

Meanwhile, the vaccination centre at the Aviva stadium will be closed this Saturday to accommodate a rugby match between Ireland and Japan. It's the first of several dates that will require vaccinations to be paused at the venue to make way for international sporting events. The other dates are July 10th, when Ireland's rugby team plays the USA; September 4th, when the Irish football team host Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier; and September 7th when they face Serbia.

The decision has been defended by stadium director Martin Murphy, who said "The arrangement with the HSE from the outset is that the stadium reverts to either IRFU or FAI for matches. Vaccinations resume the following day."