Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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627. To ask the Minister for Health if the Covid-19 vaccine will be administered to UK citizens, EU citizens and non-EU citizens living here in accordance with the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5067/21]

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.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme is designed to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient administration of a COVID-19 vaccine to all residents of Ireland who are indicated for it and wish to receive it.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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628. To ask the Minister for Health if carers who are family members are considered key workers as part of the Covid-19 vaccine programme given the invaluable and irreplaceable role they play in protecting vulnerable members of society (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5070/21]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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799. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to categorise family carers as healthcare workers in front-line services caring for the most vulnerable for the purpose of the Covid-19 vaccine. [5614/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 799 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: https://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.  

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. Vaccination of this group will begin in February (subject to regulatory approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine).

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.

Family carers are a diverse group, therefore, each individual will be vaccinated in the group that is appropriate to them.