Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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461. To ask the Minister for Health the policy followed by his Department and the HSE in relation to the allocation of vaccines to cover all front-line staff in each hospital; the reason all front-line staff at major acute hospitals, such as Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, were not vaccinated due to shortage of vaccines supplied to them initially; the reason for the shortage of vaccines in the hospital while other hospitals, such as the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, had a surplus of vaccines; if the full list, the timetable and date of vaccine distribution of vaccines to date will be published; the number of vaccines given to each such hospital; the number of front-line staff in each such hospital; and the policy which will be now followed in allocating vaccines in hospitals in the future when adequate vaccine in available nationally. [3436/21]

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.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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462. To ask the Minister for Health if number 6 on the vaccine priority list is key workers; if he will also clarify who key workers are; if family carers are considered under this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3438/21]

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.

Group 6 refers to key workers who are providing services essential to the vaccination programme.