Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to say that the nation's vaccination programme is well under way. More than 200,000 vaccines have been given. Compared with our peer European countries, we are among the top countries in the EU in terms of getting the vaccines out to people once we have received them. By last Sunday, we had received 207,000 doses, 200,000 of which had been given. The only constraints at the moment are factors that are not in our control - first, supply from the companies and, second, approvals by the European Medicines Agency, EMA.

We have faced setbacks in the past week. We now know that AstraZeneca will provide us with 200,000 fewer doses in February and March than we had anticipated and our public health and scientific advisers have recommended that over-70s be given an mRNA vaccine - the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine - rather than the AstraZeneca vaccine. I should say that all three vaccines are safe and effective, particularly in terms of reducing hospitalisations and deaths, and they have been licensed for all age groups. However, because of the lack of detail and the relatively small number of older people involved in the AstraZeneca study, the recommendation for now - this will probably change - is to give the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to over-70s where possible. This means that the same number of vaccines will be given over the next couple of weeks as had been intended, but there will need to be some changes as to which groups are vaccinated and in what order. It means that we will still be able to start the vaccination programme for the over-85s in the middle of this month as planned, but they will get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine rather than the AstraZeneca vaccine. For over-70s, the roll-out may be slower, but it will be faster for healthcare workers and other groups. In total, however, the same number of people will be vaccinated.

GPs can give the mRNA vaccines - the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine - but there are logistical challenges to that. They have to be kept at a very low temperature and can then be kept for up to five days at a moderate temperature of between 2o and 8o Celsius. It is possible for GPs to be the lead players, as it were, in the vaccination programme in respect of over-85s, but it might not be possible to administer vaccines in all surgeries. It may require vaccination centres and particular practices with the necessary infrastructure, but it can be done. GPs are willing to take part, want to be a part of it and believe they can do it. We believe they can do it, too.

As will be the case elsewhere for the next couple of months, we will have to adapt our plans as the situation develops, supplies come in, the science changes and recommendations change, and we will do that. At least 1.2 million doses will still be delivered and given to people by the end of March, but there will need to be changes to the schedule.

My understanding is that pharmacists are part of group 2. They are considered to be healthcare workers who are patient facing. They will be vaccinated starting this month, most likely with the AstraZeneca vaccine for reasons the Deputy will understand.

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