Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The target for the first dose for the over-85s was for the vast majority of them to have been done by the end of this week. There are a small number of GP practices, for the reasons I have just given, which did not receive their deliveries this week, and they will get them next week.

On the point, which the Deputy has raised before, about people who are housebound, the good news is GPs will be able to make, and are already making, house visits. The National Ambulance Service is being used as well. There was a question at the start as to whether the mRNA vaccines could be transported a second time. The clinical advice now is they can be.

On the Deputy’s question on the over-70s, the answer is partly in the second part of his question. He quite rightly pointed out some countries are now electing to use AstraZeneca for the over-70s. There is emerging evidence from UK studies the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, is looking at at the moment. The clinical advice remains that the mRNA vaccines will be used for the 70-year-olds and older, but NIAC is always looking at emerging evidence. Certainly, it would be the case that, if it advised as per France, for example, which I believe is now giving the vaccine for those above 65, it would accelerate the date.

This means, in answer to the Deputy’s final question as to when the end date for that cohort will be, as with so much in this programme, it depends. It depends on the clinical advice and on the deliveries coming in.

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