Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue, which many people throughout the country are discussing. Ireland's Covid-19 vaccination programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness and has the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from Covid-19 infection. The vaccination programme is underpinned by independent expert clinical advice provided by the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC. NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to the Department of Health based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in respect of immunisation. This approach has resulted in a high degree of public confidence in the programme, which has contributed to the high levels of uptake in both the primary and booster programmes. More than 96% of adults have now received primary vaccination and in excess of 76% have been administered an initial booster dose.

On 5 April, NIAC recommended that a second booster dose be offered to all persons aged 65 years and older and persons aged 12 years and older with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination. In making its recommendations, NIAC highlighted that breakthrough infections in those vaccinated and boosted are generally mild and of short duration while in older persons and those with certain specific conditions infection can lead to severe illness and hospitalisation. Following its recommendations, NIAC develops guidance which is contained in the immunisation guidelines for Ireland, which can be viewed online. These guidelines are continually updated and outline conditions that inhibit a sufficient response to vaccination including certain cancers, chronic kidney disease and the recent receipt of an organ transplant. Diabetes is one of a number of conditions associated with immunocompromise but not associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination. Persons in this group are considered at higher risk than the general population and have been offered both a primary vaccination regimen and an initial booster dose.

I emphasise that the Covid-19 vaccines have proven to be remarkably effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalisation and death. Those who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated continue to be disproportionately affected. I take this opportunity to urge anyone for whom an initial booster dose of vaccine has been recommended and anyone yet to receive their primary course to come forward and avail of the protection that primary vaccination and an initial booster dose affords.

I have asked NIAC to continue to actively examine the evidence regarding the likely benefit of a second booster to other groups. NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccination for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations, if required. I accept what the Senator has said in calling for everyone who is immunocompromised to be included but the guidelines so far have been specific to people who are severely or moderately immunocompromised. I also accept the point the Senator makes with regard to people with diabetes and the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. NIAC is continuously monitoring this matter and it will make further recommendations, if required.