Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman. I have three minutes. I thank the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for answering our questions. Last week, we were told that there were operational issues in the vaccine roll-out to over-85s to do with ordering and the delivery schedule. That problem was identified but I am concerned that such operational issues will continue and that every cohort will see some GP surgeries, in the same town, getting their vaccines while others do not. That has happened in Carlow, Tullow and other rural towns throughout the country. My understanding, according to what we heard today, is that 200 GP surgeries have no vaccine. Will the Minister clarify that? My mother, who is 85, was contacted on Monday and is receiving her vaccine today. I contacted the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and the HSE at the weekend because, last week, there were surgeries whose elderly patients were told they would be getting their vaccine but there was no vaccine to give them. There is a problem with communication. We are delighted that the vaccine is here and it is the story we all want to hear. However, we must be very careful in our communications and the information we give. That is the most pressing issue.

Will the Minister indicate whether a new GP order support team is being put in place? I welcome that the HSE has identified several mass vaccination centres. I have raised the issue of transport with the HSE and was told that the Community Call initiative will be in place to manage transport and communications. However, I had a call this morning from a person who has no means of transport to the GP surgery to receive the vaccine. There was no one there to help that person. We have great services in this country, with GPs and other front-line staff doing excellent work. We must ensure there is really good communication between the Community Call initiative, the HSE, doctors and nurses. I ask the Minister to put in place some kind of communication map that will ensure people have somebody to contact if they cannot access the vaccine because they do not have transport, whether to a vaccination centre or their GP's office. There must be effective communication with people in that situation.

Is the Minister hearing about many people refusing the vaccine?

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