Results 18,101-18,120 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: What I want and what the HSE has asked for is that there is maximum flexibility in compassion when it comes to maternity hospitals. We all understand why that is. At the same time, the HSE continues to allow local hospitals apply discretion, which indeed they must. Some hospitals are dealing with much higher rates of Covid in the community than others. As I said earlier, we would love as...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: With regard to pregnant women, I need to be very careful not to be stepping in and providing clinical advice which I am not qualified to give. The context is as follows. NIAC recommended that pregnant women should be offered an mRNA vaccine between 14 and 36 weeks following an individual benefit-risk discussion with their obstetric caregiver. While there are currently no data published...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I start by offering the Deputy my congratulations on the birth of his daughter some time ago and on the future birth this year. My wife and I had our first two children very close together. While I congratulate the Deputy, we might have a conversation later about coping mechanisms for the very long tunnel that he is about to enter. In terms of the 24-hour vaccination centres, this came...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The advice came in from NIAC and the HSE is currently working through it. I will read from the latest presentation from the vaccine task force as of this week. On the NIAC recommendations in regard to the vaccination of pregnant women, it states: "This will be implemented and a working group is being established, led by the women and infants programme, to develop the referral pathway and an...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: It will be in the coming weeks. I have discussed this at length with the HSE. I want to see pharmacists playing a more prominent role in this. I know they are ready to go and we have had an agreement in place with them for a very long time. The IT systems and portals for the pharmacists are being piloted with a number of community pharmacists right now. As I said earlier, the view from...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I will read the exact advice that is specifically on this from NIAC. It is the AstraZeneca recommendation for dose 2 interval. The HSE points out that much complexity is involved. Dose 2 for the over-50s and for those who are very high risk or a high risk will be given at 12 weeks. That is from mid to late May, in line with supply. For the under-50s who do not have a high-risk or very...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: They should be notified. The two distinctions are people aged 50 and older and then under 50. The people aged 50 and older will have an interval of 12 weeks. Those under 50 with a high-risk or very high-risk condition will also have an interval of 12 weeks. For those under 50 without a high-risk or very high-risk condition, the interval is 16 weeks.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The broad intention is that they would receive AstraZeneca. There may be cases where, if there is availability of an mRNA or Janssen vaccine, it can be used. We have received very little Janssen vaccine so far. The Deputy is aware we have started rolling that out now to homeless people, which is really positive to see. It is possible, at the margins, that some people in the group will...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: How long do I have?

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Okay. The Deputy asked when the European Medicines Agency, EMA, will approve certain additional vaccines and that is a question that only the EMA can answer. I know it has a rolling review in place for vaccines. I will ask for a note to be sent to the Deputy on the position of various vaccines within the rolling reviews and vaccinations. The Deputy should remember the registration fee...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for the questions and his kind comments. There is definitely a good political team in the Department of Health and there is a good working relationship with the HSE. It was good to see movement happen on Youghal that quickly. The Deputy raised points on the ongoing response and there was a comprehensive, rapid and flexible response to exactly the points he made. I can...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for all those questions. On the housebound, the National Ambulance Service is doing a huge amount of work. As the Deputy will be aware, we worked with the HSE to increase the capacity available. The ambulance fleet that is directly allocated to this has been doubled and additional personnel were put in place to support the administration of the programme as well. The...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The pharmacy network will also be involved.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I want to see a global solution to this. We cannot have a situation where poorer countries are locked out of vaccinating their populations because they cannot afford it. It is ethically unacceptable and it would also be really stupid on behalf of the western world because the virus will continue to circulate. We need to do it for ethical reasons and for reasons of...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. The Government is working with the EU on this. I have told the Deputy what my view is. The Government is working through this very closely with our colleagues in the EU. The EU's position is that the WTO TRIPS Agreement already allows countries a lot of flexibility that is not being used. For example, it allows compulsory licensing, which is when a Government permits...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I will take back to the HSE this evening what the Deputy suggested and ask if that can be done. I thank Deputy Flatherty.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I would be happy to and I will revert to the Deputy on that. It is essential for people who do not have access to cars - many people simply do not have access to cars - that there is sufficient public transport to get to the vaccination centres. Sometimes that is required seven days a week. I would be happy to take the Deputy's point back to the HSE.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. It is certainly something I can discuss with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. The expert group reported in to me on 1 April and its report contained recommendations across a number of sectors. The way we are approaching it in government is that line Ministers are exploring what can be done in their sectors. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for his questions. In respect of a pilot for rapid testing, I commissioned a report on it and I support its findings. The Deputy will be aware that there are strongly-held views among highly reputable, well-informed people on both sides. Some people like Professor Ferguson believe there is a very substantial role for rapid testing to play while others believe there...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank Deputy Murphy for all of those points. On her last point, I am aware, as we all are, many people are resident in Ireland or want to come or return to Ireland. Twelve vaccines are being used for Covid-19 around the world and the European Medicines Agency, EMA, has authorised four of them. The exemption from hotel quarantine is only for those four vaccines. That is the public health...