Written answers

Thursday, 21 January 2021

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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358. To ask the Minister for Health the provision that will be made to ensure nursing home residents will receive the Covid-19 vaccine before 24 January 2021 in circumstances in which there is an outbreak of Covid-19 in a nursing home; if decisions have been made in cases in which Covid-19 free nursing home residents should not receive the vaccine due to the fact they are living in a facility in which a Covid-19 outbreak has occurred; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3090/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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359. To ask the Minister for Health if information is available on whether nursing homes are observing the recommendation of the nursing home expert panel report which highlighted the fact that nursing home staff should not cross over from one facility to another to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission in view of the extreme staff shortages that have now been highlighted in nursing home facilities due to Covid-19 related absences particularly some of the larger nursing home groups which multiple facilities in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3092/21]

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2020, the National Public Health Emergency Team, as part of a package of public health measures recommended that staff movement across long-term residential care settings should be minimised to support COVID-19 transmission risk mitigation

The Nursing Homes Expert Panel report, published in August 2020, made 86 recommendations on a range of issues, including in relation to ensuring that safe staffing is available in nursing homes, that staff should not work across multiple sites, that infection prevention and control measures are in place and that PPE is readily available and utilised appropriately. The Department continues to engage, including through the Implementation Oversight Team and the Reference Group with the HSE as a nursing home provider and with the representative body for private and voluntary nursing homes on the implementation of the recommendations of the Nursing Homes Expert Panel report.

As you are aware, the epidemiological situation in relation to COVID-19 has deteriorated, including in relation to nursing homes. Preliminary data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) indicates that there are over 165 open outbreaks, which is over 5 times the amount of nursing home outbreaks open in mid-December. As noted by the Expert Panel and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), where there are high rates of community transmission, the risk to nursing homes is high. The HSE indicates that the recent changes in the incidence of COVID-19 nationally and, in particular, in nursing homes have presented significant staffing challenges across healthcare settings. The HSE is indicating that over 1,000 nursing home staff are presently absent as a result of COVID-19. As you will appreciate this is placing significant challenges on nursing homes. The HSE and HIQA are activating all of the available and established supports; however, staffing, particularly nursing staff, remains a particular challenge. Having regard to the current challenges, it is necessary to prioritise adequate levels of staffing in nursing homes, which may require the temporary redeployment of staff to other facilities to support safe care for residents. Where possible, the HSE is redeploying its own staff to other public and private nursing homes to support the safe delivery of care.

The established serial testing programme for nursing home staff remains a key support mechanism and is now in its seventh cycle. The testing programme is a critical part of the ongoing response to COVID-19 in nursing homes and allows for the early detection of cases and targeting of the early intervention of COVID-19 Response and Outbreak Control Teams. Over the coming weeks, where appropriate, the frequency of testing will be temporarily increased to a weekly basis under the guidance and advice of the relevant local HSE teams in agreement with nursing homes.

Additionally, the comprehensive range of public health and infection prevention and control advice remains to be of critical importance, including the appropriate use of PPE. The HSE and HIQA has developed and delivered comprehensive training resources and webinars for staff in relation to these matters.

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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360. To ask the Minister for Health when dental staff will start to receive the Covid-19 vaccination; if they will be included in the priority list for roll-out of the vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3103/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.

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.

Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in direct patient contact roles will be vaccinated in Group 2. This includes HCWs working in public, private, and voluntary settings. Other HCWs, not in direct patient contact, will be vaccinated in Group 4.

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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361. To ask the Minister for Health if he is considering using doses of different vaccines for the same person as is reported to be the stated policy in the UK but which is contrary to the official guidance adopted in the US; and his views on this practice. [3105/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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362. To ask the Minister for Health the level of engagement his Department has had with general practitioners, dentists and other medical professionals regarding the sharing of vaccine roll-out information which could then be shared with their concerned patients who would like to know when they will receive the vaccine. [3106/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.

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 HSE has confirmed that they have regular engagement on the sequencing of front line healthcare workers.

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.

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