Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government has been part of the European Commission approach in term ofs the pre-purchase of vaccines from a number of companies. Pfizer-BioNTech is one of the partnerships in respect of which a contract is being explored and it is very close to conclusion. Others are Sanofi, Janssen and Oxford-AstraZeneca. The Government today decided to establish a task force headed by Brian MacCraith, former president of Dublin City University to lead up the logistics operation that will be required for both the physical procurement of the vaccine, that is, bringing it into the country, creating distribution networks and making sure we can get it administered. A very significant logistical effort is required in respect of the vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, for example, has to be stored at -80°C. The task force is representative of people who will have key roles in ensuring we not only purchase the vaccines but are in a position to distribute them to the population.

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