Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Deputy's and his party's support in encouraging people to take up the vaccination programme.

The expanded flu vaccination campaign is a substantial advance on the campaigns of previous years. Some 1.95 million doses of vaccine, about twice as much as was administered last year, have been made available for those in at-risk groups and children aged from two to 12 years old. The total amount includes 600,000 doses of the vaccine delivered via nasal drops to children aged from two to 12 years old. This is the first time this vaccine, which is easier to administer, has been made available to children in Ireland. It is also the first year that children in this age group, who represent a risk group in their own right, have had access to vaccination without charge, which is welcome.

Some 1.35 million doses of the injected vaccine are being made available for those in the HSE-defined at-risk groups, including healthcare workers. For comparison purposes, just under 1 million doses - 950,000 - were administered last winter. Notwithstanding the large increase in available vaccine this year, it is likely that the full supply will be used. This will represent an increase of 35% in uptake in the adult population over last year. This is expected to increase the population health benefit from the vaccination campaign, as well as help to reduce the pressure on the health service, particularly when combined with the uptake among children.

Deliveries of the vaccine from the manufacturer have not been as quick as we would have liked, due to the very challenging international market for flu vaccines and given the global context of Covid-19. However, I can confirm that the HSE has now received all 1.35 million doses. A total of 950,000 have already been distributed to GPs, pharmacists and other vaccination locations and the remaining 400,000 doses are being distributed for use. The introduction of an effective and safe vaccine against Covid-19 will assist in curbing the pandemic’s spread and may facilitate the return of normal social and economic activity.

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