Dr. Ronan Glynn:

On Valneva, my understanding is that while the initial results are promising, we do not yet have sufficient data for authorisation. We want to use any vaccine that comes through and is shown to be safe and effective. Colleagues in the Department will continue to monitor that. With regard to the news about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the US, the EMA is monitoring the situation. After this meeting, because the news emerged as I came on this call, I will liaise with the HPRA to get an update. I know the EMA has been monitoring that situation.

On the Senator's final point, I fully endorse the need to re-emphasise, strengthen and improve the messaging about the basic measures. Regardless of what happens with vaccination over the coming six weeks to three months, it is those basic measures that will allow us to ease up on the measures that are much more important to us at a societal level. There has been talk that fomite transmission or transmission by touching surfaces is less of an issue than we previously thought, but Cillian de Gascun is quite clear that the science is not as clear as some would suggest that we no longer need to worry about that form of transmission. Again, it is not one panacea. We should still have a very strong emphasis on hand hygiene. The signage at parks and shops could be refreshed and updated. We need ongoing messaging on the importance of ventilation and all the other measures such as keeping one's distance and wearing a mask. If we can continue to use those measures as a society, that will allow us far more options through the summer in terms of what sectors we can open up and in society more broadly. We should keep those basic measures going.