Dr. Daniel McCartney:

The first and most important action has been mentioned by Professor Kenny. We think that a recommendation and explicit guideline for adults in the Irish population to supplement 20 to 25 mcg per day, or 800 to 1,000 units per day, is absolutely essential. We also feel that higher supplementation may be required under medical supervision in at-risk groups, such as people from the BAME communities, people who are overweight or obese, which comprises 60% of the adult population, and older people or people in nursing homes, in particular, who have notably lower vitamin D levels than the rest of the population.

The other question that may arise is whether we give vitamin D free, as is happening in the UK, to specific at-risk groups. Do we supplement people in nursing homes, prisons or other long-term care institutions where their vitamin D levels are likely to be compromised? There are a number of discrete populations which can be supplemented, such as, for example, people in nursing homes. We know that half of the mortality observed in Ireland in regard to the Covid-19 pandemic has occurred in these settings. We think that is a no-brainer.