Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for sharing their views and observations on what is a key component of our strategy for transitioning out of the current pandemic. As I am sure Deputies will agree, the scale of the current vaccination programme is unprecedented. I again acknowledge with thanks the efforts of all those who have brought us to this juncture. Without the efforts of healthcare workers we would not have managed to halt the progress of Covid-19 sufficiently prior to the roll-out of the vaccination programme. Without the initiative taken by the European Commission and our member state colleagues we would have been hard-pressed to access the quantities of vaccines that have been allocated to us to date. Without the work conducted by NPHET, the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, and the vaccine task force distribution of the vaccines would have been chaotic and disruptive to the health system. Without the efforts of the staff of the HSE vaccines would not be properly stored and ready for use, vaccinators would not be properly trained and vaccination of the most vulnerable of us would not have commenced. Finally, without the efforts and sacrifice of members of the public we would not be in a position to manage the progress of the disease and maximise the benefits that vaccines provide for us. To all those who have been working flat out for the past three weeks to deliver the vaccine I want to say "thank you".

On vaccine supply, we have heard many calls today from various Deputies for the vaccination of different groups to be accelerated. I want to make it clear that the administration of vaccines to members of the public will be limited only by supply of the vaccines available. As new vaccines are authorised by the European Commission Ireland's vaccination programme will be scaled up with a view to the fair administration of vaccines across key groups. These groups have been identified on the basis of careful consideration of what is known about the disease, the vaccines available to combat it and where public health benefits can be maximised. Eventually, vaccination will be made available free of charge to all those who seek it. That will be dependent on the supply of vaccines available at any given time. Administration of the vaccine is subject to continuous review such that any decisions to speed up the campaign or to vaccinate particular groups will be evidence based. I reiterate what the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, said earlier. Evidence based, clinical based reviews will be key. There will not be political decisions in regard to who receives the vaccine and when they receive it. Everything will be evidence and clinically based.

I want to talk about the vaccination and side effects. As with any vaccine some side effects are to be expected. I can advise that they are being carefully monitored and that as of 11 January, 81 adverse reactions were detected. All reports made to the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, were generally consistent with those typically observed with other vaccines and included events of a mild to moderate nature, which resolved or were resolving at the time of reporting.

It should also be noted that vaccination of some groups, for example, children or those with certain chronic conditions, cannot take place until more data is gathered to ensure that a particular vaccine is safe to administer to a particular age group.

This may inform decisions as to who should be administered the vaccine until further data are obtained.

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