John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Okay. I will stop Dr. Glynn there. That was a comprehensive answer. It would be very useful if he could arrange for a brief paper on that issue to be sent to the committee because it is a question that often comes up from constituents.

My final question also relates to constituents. GPs have received calls this morning, politicians have received emails and calls in the past 24 hours and I am sure the witnesses have received their fair share of emails, all from people who are now anxious about taking the AstraZeneca vaccine. The issue has been all over the radio. Much of it has been covered. I listened to the witnesses' discussing the issue last night. They covered as much as they could but the thing is that the cattle have been spooked, to use that Western movie analogy. The line from NPHET - which I understand - is that one should take the vaccine one is offered. However, should it not be the case that people with serious reservations in that regard are able to exercise those reservations, just as those who do not wish to take the vaccine can exercise their reservations? Those who do not wish to take a particular vaccine should not be "punished" by having to wait a lengthy period to be administered another vaccine, particularly in the case of the over-70s or the over-60s, who are in vulnerable positions.

Should they not be in a position where they are able to receive a vaccine, regardless of whether it is AstraZeneca, as quickly as possible and, in an ideal situation, in the order they were intended to receive it? That is my final question. I thank the witnesses.