Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. If he could do that, it would be helpful so that we can deduce one from the other. The Minister can appreciate where I am going with this. On the AstraZeneca vaccine, I understand that the Government was very much taken aback, as we were, by the recommendation that came in regard to that vaccine. If there are situations where speed will trump perfection in getting the vaccine out to those who are very isolated, will consideration be given to using the AstraZeneca vaccine for those people? I am thinking of the purely practical issue concerning storage. Equally, if data are acquired in the coming weeks showing that the AstraZeneca vaccine is of use and is safe for those aged over 70 years of age, will he change back the criteria and speed of the roll-out? The Minister has outlined mid-May previously as the date in responses to me, but will he bring that forward by the two weeks that are being lost, or by as much as is possible?

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