Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. My request is very simple. I ask that all people who are immunocompromised receive the second Covid-19 booster vaccine without delay. I cannot understand why this is not happening. We are told there is no shortage of vaccines. Clearly, it would make sense to vaccinate the most vulnerable in society. Someone with type 1 diabetes is in the same cohort as someone with type 2 diabetes. We all know that type 1 diabetes is much more challenging and has a much bigger health risk than type 2. Type 2 diabetes is more often than not brought on as a result of lifestyle whereas type 1 is something people are born with. It is not appropriate that they would both be in the one cohort. We want all of these people to be vaccinated but there is a delay, which is not acceptable. I would like to know why that is.

We also need a new and revised information campaign on vaccines in general. There is a little slippage in this area. People are a bit careless about getting their booster shots. We need a renewed information campaign about the benefits of the Covid-19 booster vaccine. Covid has not gone away. The Minister of State knows that. We all know it. There are still people getting sick from Covid and there are people in hospital and intensive care as a result of Covid. Clearly there is a benefit to the vaccine. We saw that during the recent Omicron wave. The numbers of people hospitalised were way down even though the numbers that tested positive for Covid were way up. The number of people in intensive care was significantly down in spite of the fact that the virus was rampant throughout the community. That was because 97% of the Irish people were vaccinated. Vaccines work. They will not prevent people from getting Covid but they will prevent them from getting very sick when they get it, in a lot of cases. That is not true in all cases but it is in a lot of them. There are immunocompromised people waiting to be called to get their second booster shot. That is not acceptable. Some have got it from their GPs but many have not. If they look for it, they are told it is not their turn yet. There is something seriously wrong here. I do not know who is to blame, whether the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, the Minister, the Department or the HSE. Can somebody please explain the logic of not vaccinating with a second booster shot people who are immunocompromised? It is very simple. This just does not make sense.

There has been a lot of talk of long Covid. There is a huge body of work to be done on people who are still suffering from long Covid. We are hearing a lot of talking about it but we are not seeing too much walking or delivery. That is an issue for another day but I thought I would raise it while I had the opportunity. I hope the Minister of State will have some positive news for the people who are most vulnerable in our society, who need to get a second booster shot in order to protect their health and ensure they do not get sick or lose their lives from Covid.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I would give NIAC nine out of ten rather than ten out of ten because it was slow off the mark in coming out with recommendations before Christmas of last year. It is just slow in making recommendations. The dogs in the street know what is ultimately going to happen and yet recommendations take forever to come out. It can be very frustrating. Will the Minister of State or his officials go back to NIAC on this specific issue and ask it to decouple type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes because there is a significant difference between the two? Type 1 diabetics are often on pumps that have to be monitored 24-7. They are in constant risk of having a diabetic attack. If that is not a case for getting a second booster, I do not know what is. If nothing else comes out of this Commencement matter, I hope type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be decoupled. If NIAC was to allow those with type 1 diabetes a second booster shot, I would have achieved something.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for being so specific in his request for type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes to be decoupled in view of the severe issues facing people with type 1 diabetes, who are often on pumps and in a more severe condition. I commit to the Senator that, before the day is out, I will personally communicate the views he has expressed directly to the Minister.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. I thank the Minister of State.