Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the warm welcome and Senator Casey for the very important issue he has raised.

He is quite right; it was raised several times yesterday in the Dáil when Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and I were answering questions on the Covid-19 vaccine. The only limit to the vaccine is supply. That is where our main issue is. For example, we got 21,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this week. Those are being distributed to front-line workers because a decision was taken that it was no suitable for those over 65. The issue we currently have is supply. We would love to have a huge supply of the vaccine. There are no vaccine supplies sitting in storage not being administered. I want to put it on the record.

The Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The strategy was developed by the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, and the Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, and approved by the Government on 8 December 2020. Vaccine allocation is a matter for the Department of Health. The roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE. The aim of the Covid-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, the vaccine becomes available to all individuals for whom it is indicated.

Given there are currently limited vaccines available, it will take some time for everyone to receive the vaccine, necessitating an allocation strategy. This will ensure that the most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first. The priority is to first vaccinate and protect the most vulnerable among us, that is, the most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness. Hence, the focus on the over 65 year cohort in long-term residential care facilities and health care workers in front-line services often caring for the most vulnerable.

As we have seen, the roll out has been to nursing homes. I am delighted to say the uptake from residents is close to 99%, which is absolutely phenomenal. Vaccine 2 is being rolled out to the nursing home settings. During the week commencing 8 February, the vaccination programme is continuing. It is entering its conclusion phase with a continued prioritisation of staff within disability and mental health settings who are managing the care of those over 65 in residential settings. Residents over 65 in non-registered long-term residential care, LTRC, settings, such as religious orders, are also being prioritised for vaccination. I will be dealing with that issue in the next Commencement matter. In line with vaccine supply, each community healthcare organisation, CHO, commenced vaccination within these settings on 8 February, which was Monday of this week. The next group to be vaccinated is group 3, which will start next Monday. It includes those aged 70 and older in the following order: 85 and older; 80 to 84; 75 to 79; and 70 to 74. Vaccination of this group will commence on Monday, 15 February. People with chronic kidney disease are included in group 5 or group 7, which include people aged 65 to 69, with priority for certain medical conditions, and people aged 18 to 64 with certain medical conditions. Of course people with chronic kidney disease are not an homogenous group and may be included in other priority groups, such as groups 1 and 2.

In response to the Senator's direct question, the Minister for Health stated yesterday that he asked the HSE to examine the issue raised in relation to the various groups. I expect this review to conclude quickly.