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

At the outset, it is really important to say that all four of the vaccines that have been used in Ireland are very effective, perhaps not as effective against transmission as we hoped but extremely effective in reducing hospitalisation and the need for ICU care and against death. What is remarkable is that, in the past two weeks or so, we have had as many cases of Covid detected as we did in the first six months of the pandemic, yet we have not seen comparable numbers, thankfully, in our hospitals and ICUs, let alone deaths. It is because of the strength and efficacy of those vaccines that we are in a much better position relatively than we would be had we not had those vaccines, and a much better position than we were in last winter or last year.

The advice and decision from NIAC, as adopted by the Government, is that anybody receiving a booster shot will receive an mRNA vaccine, that is Pfizer, Moderna or the new one that will be approved quite soon. However, my understanding is that people cannot receive a booster shot until five to six months after their previous shot. I will double-check that for the Deputy. I believe we are going to need an extensive vaccination programme. We have now got approval for the over-60s, healthcare workers and people under 60 who are immunocompromised. I think we will need approval, and we will be seeking advice and approval from NIAC, on extending the vaccine booster programme more widely, particularly to those under 60 with chronic conditions. I know NIAC and NPHET are examining the evidence on that all the time.

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