Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

177. To ask the Minister for Health the number of nursing home residents; and the most up-to-date number that have received the Covid-19 vaccine. [1931/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

179. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a national database for the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine; the person or body who developed the database; the way in which the database operates; the way in which information is input into the database; and if it is interactive and communicated centrally at a national level. [1933/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

180. To ask the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccinations that have been delivered to date; and when there will be full vaccination coverage. [1934/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland is taking part in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission (EC) on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.

To date, two vaccines have been granted conditional marketing authorisation by the EC following recommendation by the European Medicines Agency. The HSE took its first delivery of the vaccine Comirnaty, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer in late December and this week received the first delivery of COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna.

The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme.

The National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, which was prepared by the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination, was signed off by Cabinet on 15 December 2020.

The vaccines will be rolled out in three phases - the initial roll out, a mass ramp-up and open access. The highest priority groups, those over the age of 65 living in long-term care facilities and frontline healthcare workers in direct patient contact, will receive the vaccine first.

The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.

The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable. 

All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.This is wholly dependent on supply lines and on candidate vaccines obtaining approval.  Therefore, it is not possible at this time to determine a timeframe for the full vaccination programme.

The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.

Further information on the Allocation Strategy can be found at:

.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

181. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the priority list for administration of the Covid-19 vaccine across the health service, inclusive of all staff not just medical and healthcare staff by grade, group and category in which general practitioners and practice nurses fit in; and if he will respond to concerns raised by general practitioners that their priority on the roll-out list is not consummate with their need and the level of danger they face from Covid-19 in their work. [1935/21]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

185. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the Covid-19 vaccination programme for general practitioners nationwide (details supplied); if general practitioner representative bodies have been consulted in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1948/21]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

186. To ask the Minister for Health if healthcare staff at private hospitals who are taking in patients referred from the public system will be regarded as front-line health workers and receive the vaccine at the beginning of the Covid-19 vaccination schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1950/21]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

198. To ask the Minister for Health if persons who are working in cancer support centres can be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1995/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 181, 185, 186 and 198 together.

Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here:

.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.

The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.

The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.

All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.

The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.