James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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696. To ask the Minister for Health the logistics and distribution experts that have been consulted in developing the roll-out processes for the vaccine programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6344/21]

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.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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698. To ask the Minister for Health the current listed position regarding family carers to receive the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6346/21]

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.

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 this month.

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 thatis appropriate to them.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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699. To ask the Minister for Health the position on the list for members of the dentistry profession and primary healthcare staff to receive the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6347/21]

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.

The next group to be vaccinated (group 3) 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 this month.

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.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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700. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will provide a clear dashboard of information regarding the scheduling as to the way that persons will receive the vaccine in order to provide and easy to understand information source as to when persons are to receive the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6348/21]

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 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 this month.

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.

Vaccine allocation is a matter for the Department of Health and further information is available here: .

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.

Further information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme can be found at:

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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701. To ask the Minister for Health if clarity will be provided regarding the suggestion that the EU allocated vaccines according to how well placed member states are to administer same; if Ireland can receive additional doses of the vaccine if the country was in a position to administer them more quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6349/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is participating in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. Six Advanced Procurement Agreements (APAs) have been negotiated by the Commission under this process to date.

Ireland has agreed to procure five of these vaccine candidates under of the terms of the APAs; government approval has been obtained to opt-into a sixth, but this is conditional on certain trial progression criteria being met.

The basic principle for the allocation of the doses to the Member States is the population-based distribution key. This is a pro rata key on the basis of population numbers and ensures a fair distribution. Delivery of vaccines to each country is concurrent.

Ireland has signalled its solidarity with the EU approach and has, through its participation, gained access to a broad range of vaccines that it might not otherwise have access to, and at the cost agreed collectively by the EU.

Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated a national allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first. Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here: .