Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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899. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated date for the vaccination of essential workers in food processing factories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7168/21]

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.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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900. To ask the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccines administered across each of the priority groups to date; if regular breakdowns across categories and cohorts will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7181/21]

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.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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901. To ask the Minister for Health if he has examined the use of community centres in order to assist with the mass roll-out of Covid-19 vaccinations; if he will be seeking interest from community centres in coming forward to offer their facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7182/21]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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907. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the proposed locations of mass vaccination centres proposed for each county and CHO; if he will provide a list of the centres that have been considered for use in each county and those that have been secured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7194/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 901 and 907 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.