Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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282. To ask the Minister for Health if he will approve the use of pulse oximetry to detect early deterioration of patients with Covid-19 in primary and community care settings similar to the NHS in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4859/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I and the Government are committed to providing the best care possible to patients with COVID-19, and the measures we have put in place in the community, such as GP consultation without charges for all patients with COVID symptoms and Community Assessment Hubs for patients suffering with COVID, are indicative of this. We will continue to examine relevant proposals in this spirit.

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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283. To ask the Minister for Health if he will allow general practitioners to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine to persons over 70 years of age as they have successfully administered the flu vaccine to this age group in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4860/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The next group to be vaccinated are those aged 70 and older in the following order: 85 and older, 80-84, 75-79, and 70-74.

GPs, Pharmacists, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and many healthcare professionals, will have a role to play in the vaccination programme.