Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the roll-out of vaccines to GP practices, a number of GPs from my constituency in Limerick have contacted me in recent days. I have been in contact with the Minister's office. GPs in Cork and Kerry have got the vaccine, as have many GPs in Dublin. There appears to be significant inconsistency in the roll-out of vaccines to GPs. Who is responsible for the roll-out of vaccines to GPs? Is it community health services or University Hospital Limerick? Will the Minister look at having a national roll-out of the vaccine to GPs and their practices? They are on the front line. The people who refer people for Covid-19 tests are GPs. They are on the front line. It does not in any way take from other healthcare workers. Some 1,100 vaccines are coming into Limerick on Thursday. Only 300 of those are going to community health services. In our case, we have such a high rate of Covid that while I understand they have been dispersed based on population criteria, surely there should be an element related to risk too. That is a significant factor for GPs. Will there be a national roll-out for GPs, including in Limerick? Why are GPs in Cork and their staff vaccinated while GPs and their staff in Limerick are not?

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