Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to make a few points and then, perhaps, ask a couple of questions if we have time at the end. The vaccination programme will only work with successful engagement and buy-in from the public. The vaccine programme needs to be as fair, open, transparent and honest as possible. Some people have genuine concerns at the speed, safety and effectiveness of many of the vaccines that have appeared and they have worries about the possible side effects. We need to respond to those concerns with responsible, accurate and up-to-date information.

We see media reports of non-front-line healthcare staff and family members receiving vaccines outside of the priority scheduling. No one wants to see the vaccine go to waste but there has to be accountability and transparency in the process. If there is an extra dose per vial, all hospitals and vaccination centres must be made accountable for those extra doses and be prepared to stand over what they do with them. This information will be vital in order to be able to give people their second doses if required.

This is an incredibly complex programme with many moving parts. My worry is that we see the hallmarks of an attitude that everything will be grand, it will settle down and somehow it will sort itself out. We cannot adopt a Mickey Mouse amateur approach. It has to be logical and precise. There can be no oiling of the hinges and taking of shortcuts. I have great concern at the concerted efforts of a few who would sow doubt and fear of the vaccine in the minds of the public. We have to up our games and explain exactly what is in the vaccine, why it is safe and why it is necessary. I have heard anecdotal evidence of some healthcare professionals expressing doubts about the vaccine and even about the virus. Covid-19 is not a flu-like virus. One should ask the families of those who are fighting for their lives in ICU wards across the country about the virus, or ask Martin Ward, a nurse in University Hospital Galway who was on "Morning Ireland" this morning, whose mother and father died of the virus.

Are proper records being kept of the excess doses of the vaccine that are being given to those outside the normal schedule? These should not be pen and paper records that could be shoved into a drawer. Will the full IT recording system be available to all vaccination teams ahead of the progression to the larger category groups? What is the HSE doing to combat the disinformation campaign we are seeing springing up online and on the streets? Is the HSE willing to step up its public information campaign to help allay some people's legitimate concerns around the virus?

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