Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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396. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the Covid-19 vaccination schedule to be operating seven days per week and outside standard office hours, given the exponential growth of the virus in our communities and the urgency to ensure the maximum roll-out is achieved to ensure public health is maintained. [3250/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Vaccination teams working across the country are administering vaccinations seven days a week. The HSE are finalising plans for the use of Mass Vaccination Clinics. The hours of operation will be dependent on vaccine supply and workforce availability.