Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was looking at a graphic yesterday that illustrates how appalling the progress of our vaccination programme has been compared with that of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, our nearest neighbour.We have vaccinated only 5% of our population with the first dose of an approved vaccine whereas in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, they have vaccinated over 23% with at least one dose. That is over 15 million people. Looking further afield, the US has vaccinated about 15% of its population. Leading the way is Israel with almost 73% of the population vaccinated with one dose. I read in The Times of Israelabout how effective the vaccine is proving to be in the real world outside of clinical trials. Clearly, the vaccine is saving lives and taking the strain off healthcare workers in intensive care units. It is equally clear, therefore, that the failure of the European Union and the Government to secure adequate supplies of the vaccine is costing lives and livelihoods. It is keeping people trapped in the misery of lockdown and restrictions on their basic liberties. According to a poll of the Institute of Directors in Ireland, a slower than expected Covid-19 vaccine roll-out is seen as the biggest threat to business in Ireland. These pharmaceutical companies use Ireland as a manufacturing base and take advantage of our skilled workers and favourable tax regime. What are they doing for us now? Where is the benefit for the ordinary person?

The Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, has stated that if the vaccine supplies were available, our GPs could vaccinate the over-70s in six weeks, not 12 weeks as our Government has scheduled for. We must accelerate the pace of the vaccinations and the Government must show more ingenuity to resolve the logistics and supply issue that has hampered the haphazard vaccination programme to date.

In the last ten minutes, 37 centres have been announced throughout the country. I would like to know when that will begin. An online community programme needs to be put in place to allow the public avail of vaccinations anywhere in this country. I urge the Government to get on with the vaccination programme.