Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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799. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44843/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A cross-Government High-Level Taskforce has been established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the COVID-19 immunisation programme. Government has agreed the prioritisation process that should apply to the vaccination of the population, based on the advice of national experts on immunisation and endorsed by the NPHET.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is underway. The vaccination programme is initially targeting those most at risk by focusing on Long Term Residential Care Facilities and front-line healthcare workers.

Following the initial phase, there will be a considerable scale up in the roll-out of vaccinations. This will be achieved through partnerships with Pharmacists in addition to GPs and other specialist staff and will be delivered through a range of Mass Vaccination Centres (MVCs). In this regard engagement has taken place between the HSE and representatives of community pharmacists.

A national and regional public information campaign about the COVID-19 vaccine has commenced. The campaign focuses on clear, transparent communication with the public around the vaccine rollout, its efficacy and addressing vaccine hesitancy.