Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State said it, namely, that at-risk people include those aged 65 years and over, those with chronic illness requiring regular medical follow-ups, those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment, pregnant women and residents of nursing homes and other long-stay facilities. The key component in all of our health services is front-line staff. The HSE said that there has not been a great level of take-up. One has to ask why the HSE is not being more informative to its own employees, who are at risk of infection and infecting. I urge the Minister of State to ensure that the immunisation programme for all these high-risk categories is rolled out in a robust way and that the HSE will engage with staff, through advocacy groups, unions and worker representatives, to ensure that there is a big take-up. It is a critically important component in ensuring that there is herd immunisation in the context of the flu vaccine.

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