Dr. Lucy Jessop:

As Professor MacCraith stated, we are closely controlling the vaccines but also sending them out as fast as possible. There have been times where we have got close to requiring the deliveries to be coming in for the next lot of vaccines, but we are trying to titrate the vaccines we send out and to ensure we can fulfil our obligations. Obviously, there were plans for the long-term care facilities to be vaccinated, so we ensured there was vaccine for all of them and for the second doses. It is a complex process to ensure we can meet all those commitments at the correct time.

We need to remember that vaccines are very complex and sensitive biological products.

The storage and distribution even when bringing them into Ireland can be difficult. Obviously, if there is a problem on a ferry or a difficult shipping crossing, the vaccines may not be able to get to Ireland on a particular day. It is, therefore, something we are always aware of and we are always watching to make sure we know what is happening with our supplies.