David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. It is a fascinating debate and discussion to date. I will focus on a number of points. In regard to the vaccine hesitancy, I notice that the IPHA has said low update rates are due to hesitancy.

She may correct me if I am wrong but I think Dr. Kelly penned a letter to The Irish Timeslast January contradicting this, saying there is no more hesitancy in the market than there is in Europe or elsewhere. She also stated that hesitancy in Africa and other countries is due to historical issues with respect to vaccines that were used unethically. Will witnesses comment on the extent of vaccine hesitancy, what can be done about it and the issue of how it may be leading to a lack of uptake in some countries, which we are all concerned about?