Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Vitamin season is upon us as we approach the winter and we all try to boost our immunity against colds and flus. I ask the Government to launch a vitamin D public awareness campaign because we know vitamin D works. Six separate Irish studies over the past two years have shown a connection between vitamin D and improved immunity against Covid-19 which, as we know, is still circulating in our communities. That is on top of the benefits in boosting our immunity against colds and flus and protecting our bones. We know that over half of the population in Ireland is deficient in vitamin D. There is a deficiency of 94% in our black, Asian and ethnic minority communities here. We also know that vitamin D can help protect people from viruses and boost immunity. Will the Government help get that message out to people? Dr. Daniel McCartney, a constituent of mine, and Professor Roseanne Kenny have led a huge amount of research in this area. The Covit-D Consortium has strongly suggested that a public awareness campaign on vitamin D supplementation would be great for us as a State.

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