Written answers

Thursday, 14 January 2021

Department of Health

Vaccination Programme

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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172. To ask the Minister for Health when the intellectual disability sector will be scheduled for vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2146/21]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Health when prison officers will start to receive the Covid-19 vaccine; if they will be included in the priority list for roll-out of the vaccine; when prisoners receive the vaccine; and the overall plan for the roll out of vaccines across prisons. [1928/21]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the priority list for administration of the Covid-19 vaccine in hospitals, inclusive of all staff not just medical and healthcare staff by grade, group and category. [1932/21]

Photo of Pádraig O'SullivanPádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Health if patients with cystic fibrosis will receive the Covid-19 vaccines; if they will be a prioritised group bearing in mind their vulnerability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1939/21]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Health if patients with underlying health conditions will be escalated for receipt of the Covid-19 vaccination given their vulnerabilities and susceptibility to the effects of Covid-19. [1941/21]

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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191. To ask the Minister for Health if home help and home care workers will receive the Covid -19 vaccine at level 2 for front-line healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1970/21]

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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202. To ask the Minister for Health if organ transplant patients will be prioritised in the Covid-19 vaccine roll out; if so, when this will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2001/21]

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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207. To ask the Minister for Health if family carers will be included in the Covid-19 vaccination priority list; if family members living with family carers will be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2021/21]

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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209. To ask the Minister for Health the group in the Covid-19 vaccine implementation plan sequence childcare workers are included in. [2027/21]

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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210. To ask the Minister for Health if students with additional education needs and staff in special schools and classes can be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2029/21]

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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219. To ask the Minister for Health when pharmacists will be vaccinated under the vaccination schedule. [2063/21]

Photo of Réada CroninRéada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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220. To ask the Minister for Health the Covid-19 vaccine priority that will be given to carers given their particular circumstances in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2073/21]

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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222. To ask the Minister for Health if dentists and their staff will be considered front-line healthcare workers in the context of the Covid-19 vaccination programme and will be vaccinated at the beginning of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout; the schedule of vaccination for these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2076/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 172, 174, 178, 182, 183, 191, 202, 207, 209, 210, 219, 220 and 222 together.

Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here: .

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.

The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.

The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.

All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.

The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.

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