Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Devlin for raising this issue and for acknowledging the importance of the booster vaccination programme. I can tell the House that, yesterday, 45,000 booster vaccines were administered, which was the single biggest number to date in the booster programme. Those between the ages of 40 and 49 will start to receive the booster brought vaccine no later than the week commencing 27 December.

We are concerned about the specific issue raised by the Deputy about people who have received the single-shot Janssen vaccine because of the waning effectiveness over time. I know the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has raised this specific issue with the CMO, Dr. Holohan, and with the NIAC. While they are approved to receive the booster vaccine, it has not been suggested to us they should be prioritised ahead of older cohorts. That is where things stand but we expect to receive a reply to that shortly.

See this speech in context