Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House on this important issue. I agree with my colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee, about the Irish language. To add to that, the information should also be available in Braille so that the blind community has full access to it. I do not doubt that the Minister of State will send this message to the officials to ensure that happens.

There have been many discussions on vaccines down the years. It is correct to say that, in this country, many lives have been saved by vaccines. Outside of clean water, a vaccine is the single best medical intervention we can make to keep our population safe and healthy. The Covid-19 vaccine will do exactly that.

When the virus became a reality this time last year, it was in my parish that some of the first cases of Covid-19 in Ireland were discovered. Since then, it has been an incredibly difficult journey for everyone. Families that have lost loved ones are grieving, but they have not been able to grieve in the traditional and appropriate way. People who have got sick with Covid, some with long-term Covid, have had an horrendous time. People who have lost their jobs and are now in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, because of the disease have also been through an horrendous time.

The good news is that the vaccination programme has started and vaccines are being rolled out. Of course it will be difficult and there will be challenges along the way. We are a small country, but we are fortunate to be part of the EU. The European Medicines Agency, EMA, will give a green light to the AstraZeneca vaccine when it is correct to do so and when the agency can stand over it. There will be no rushing into this. It will be done with the safety and health of the citizens of Europe in mind. I have no time for the vaccine nationalisation and anti-Europe talk that seems to be taking place. Were it not for Europe, we would not have the purchasing power to get the vaccines we have already received and those we will receive. Talk of going it alone at this time is unhelpful.

We have a task force that is responsible for the roll-out of the vaccination programme. I have every confidence that the prioritisation list it has devised is correct and has the best interests of public health in mind. It is not helpful for politicians to lobby for one sector over another. We all know the unique roles and commitment of the various front-line workers, from those working at checkouts to those working in Covid wards. I have confidence that the national immunisation task force has done the best it can with the medical expertise and advice available to it to get the prioritisation correct.

We are disappointed to hear about a reduction in the supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine. I understand there are high-level discussions under way between AstraZeneca and the European Commission. I do not doubt that our best interests, just like Europe's, will be served by the Commission and that we will resolve the problem.This will not be the first problem we have with the vaccine. To that degree, I believe communication is critical. We need to have as much communication and information available as is possible. It may not be possible to give a daily update on the number of people vaccinated, but if it were possible then it would certainly be helpful.

I agree with Senator Craughwell that anti-vaxxers have done an injustice to the vaccination programmes in this country over the years, and they continue to do so. I look to the other side and the great work being done by so many people promoting vaccines. I think of the late Laura Brennan from County Clare and the heroic work she did before she died to promote the taking of vaccines. In her memory, and in the memory of all the other people we have lost, we have a duty to get out there and sell and promote the vaccine.

I have no doubt the commitment is there to deliver the clarity that I have called for in terms of the provision of information. I do not necessarily think that anything will be achieved by having a specific Minister with responsibility for the vaccine. The vaccine is the number one priority for the Government at this stage. The little bumps that we have experienced along the way, particularly in terms of what happened in the Coombe and the Rotunda, were regrettable but significant lessons have been learned from them.

Perhaps the Minister of State does not have the answer to this, but he may come back to me at a later stage. I would like to know the logic behind not permitting pharmacists to vaccinate the over-70s when it comes to the Covid-19 vaccine? They have been providing the flu jab for years. What is the rationale or reasoning behind not allowing pharmacists to inject the over-70s? Speaking of pharmacists, I think the actions of a former colleague of this House, Kate O’Connell, were commendable. She was on national radio on Sunday saying she did not necessarily believe that pharmacist should get the vaccine quicker than other people in the medical sphere. She outlined her reasons and reasoning for that. It was a very selfless contribution, and a very logical and mature contribution.

What we need with this vaccine roll-out is clear communication and cool heads. If we all did our level best to promote it among our family, friends, neighbours, communities and, in our case, our constituents, eventually we would turn the corner and have much brighter days ahead. The sooner the better, but we can only go at the pace the vaccine becomes available to us because at our end there cannot be, and I know there will not be, any delays.