Seanad debates

Monday, 31 May 2021

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements

 

10:30 am

Photo of Lorraine Clifford-LeeLorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for such an enthusiastic update on our vaccination roll-out. It is a pity the cyberattack has stopped real-time reporting of the numbers of vaccines being administered because I imagine the daily figures are a sight to behold. We all have family members and know people in our communities who have been vaccinated. From speaking to them, I know it has been such a positive experience. People are arriving at vaccination centres and bumping into neighbours and friends, including old school friends they have not seen in years. Everyone is really happy. They are in and out of the centre in 20 or 30 minutes and it is a very positive experience.

Much credit goes to Professor Brian MacCraith and his team, the Minister, Mr. Paul Reid and everybody working in the vaccination programme, including staff in vaccination centres and those administering the vaccines. It is fantastic. The Taoiseach told us on Friday night that 2.6 million doses of vaccine had been administered, and many more were administered over the weekend. It is a really positive news story. If we think back to one year ago, just before the Government was formed at the start of June 2020, the atmosphere then was so different from the atmosphere today. Back then, people were worried and upset. We did not believe we would get a vaccine so quickly and doubts were cast on our ability to administer vaccines efficiently. All those worries have been put to bed. We are on the road out of the pandemic and we must keep going.

I will address a few points. What are the plans for vaccinating children aged between 12 and 18 years? What is the Minister's thinking on that issue? I would also like an update on the EU's action against AstraZeneca. The Minister mentioned the importance of having a dependable supply chain for the vaccines coming into the country. AstraZeneca deliveries were not what they should have been, which was a major disappointment to everybody in the EU. Mediation is ongoing. I would like an update on that.The Minister met with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, last week regarding healthcare workers who are receiving their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the next week or so. The INMO representatives looked for an update on the advice about mixing vaccines considering the updated data about the greater risk of blood clotting in younger people. Many of our healthcare workers are younger females. There is a worry about the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which they are due to get shortly. I ask the Minister to update us on the possibility of mixing vaccines.

On shortening the gap between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca, we know the first shot of AstraZeneca does not give much protection against the B.1.617.2 variant. In the UK, the interval between the first and second shot has been shortened. Has the Minister any plans to reduce it for the many people who have received AstraZeneca?

I raised this last issue with the Minister previously and he stated he would look into it, but the cyberattack has put it back somewhat. The lack of availability on the portal to register for vaccines in Irish is a very important vaccine roll-out issue for a certain cohort in this country. As the Minister knows, there is an obligation on the State to provide all forms to members of the public in both Irish and English, but one must go to the portal to register for a vaccine. Registration can also be done by phone and when the issue was first raised an Irish-speaking line was put in, but the website is not available in Irish. I ask for an update on that and at what point it might be resolved. We will have to live with the vaccination schedule for a long number of months, possibly years, and it is very important the issue is tackled at this point. I would really appreciate answers to those questions. I again say well done to the Minister, his team in the Department, everybody in the HSE and everybody working in the vaccination centres. All of them are doing great. I cannot wait to get my vaccine when the time comes.

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