Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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382. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to ensure proper organisation of times for vaccinations and checks being carried out in locations providing vaccinations (details supplied). [3179/21]

Stephen 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.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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383. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the inclusion of dental workers as priority 2 in the provisional vaccine allocation groups for the Covid-19 vaccine; and when such workers will be able to register for the vaccine in the HSE portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3209/21]

Stephen 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.

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

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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384. To ask the Minister for Health if frontline healthcare workers as defined in the national Covid-19 vaccination programme implementation plan include public nurses and HSE carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3212/21]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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413. To ask the Minister for Health when persons working in dental practices will receive the Covid-19 vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3284/21]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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442. To ask the Minister for Health if the dental profession will be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccination given its close contact with patients and its high-risk working environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3351/21]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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472. To ask the Minister for Health if dentists and dental staff will be considered front-line healthcare workers in the context of the Covid-19 vaccination programme; if they will be vaccinated at the beginning of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out; the schedule of vaccination for these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3488/21]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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474. To ask the Minister for Health when cancer support workers will receive Covid-19 vaccinations. [3495/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 384, 413, 442, 472 and 474 together.

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: www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.

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.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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385. To ask the Minister for Health the group under which vulnerable persons being cared for in the home are categorised under page 9 of the national Covid-19 vaccination programme implementation plan sequencing table; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3213/21]

Stephen 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 the 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.

The next group to be vaccinated are those aged 70 and older.

Persons being cared for in the home are a diverse group, therefore, each individual will be vaccinated in the group that is appropriate to them.