Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I am not in a position to give Deputy Ó Caoláin an update. As for the cost of extending free vaccinations to the group referred to by Deputy McManus, as we have seen in respect of the over-70s medical card, if one announces that something will be made available to a class of citizen by virtue of the class rather than on the basis of economic circumstances, one ends up paying substantially more for it. However, if it were to be paid for on the basis of the current free scheme, it would probably cost approximately €20 million. The vaccine costs €4.45 per dose and there would be a medical fee of €34.43.

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