Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In answering the Deputy, some of those questions fall under the remit of the senior Minister, Deputy Donnelly. My remit is more for older people and mental health.

As to the over 60-year-old people, as the Deputy is aware, this was changed again yesterday or the day before. Now, for example, anybody over 50 years of age will be able to receive AstraZeneca or the new Janssen vaccine that was passed by the European Medicines Agency, EMA, and the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, here. My understanding is that it is under 50-year-old people who would have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine who have now gone to 16 weeks because the younger people may be more averse and have a bad outcome from it. My understanding is, and I stand open to correction on this and I will reply to the Deputy in writing with the proper answer, that those over 60 years of age will have a 12 week wait for the AstraZeneca dose.

As to Parkinson’s disease, I worked very closely with the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland in Waterford and I will bring the Deputy’s request forward. From what I can see, the roll-out of the over sixties vaccine with the portal has proven to be very successful. We will get to people more quickly in that respect but I will respond in writing to the Deputy.

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