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.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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295. To ask the Minister for Health the way and by whom the decision was made to not make a vaccine (details supplied) available to persons over 70 years of age; if a revision of same is planned in view of the WHO statement that the vaccine is suitable for use in this age group; and if he or the relevant body will make the vaccine available to persons over 70 years of age on a voluntary basis so that any person in this cohort who wishes to avail of the vaccine can do so. [10759/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Covid-19 vaccines can only be approved and used if they comply with all the requirements of quality, safety and efficacy set out in the EU pharmaceutical legislation. Any authorised vaccine will be subject to ongoing monitoring in Ireland by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and includes guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended that, in line with the approvals granted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), all currently authorised COVID-19 vaccines can be used in adults of all ages, including those aged 70 years and older.

NIAC has also recommended that mRNA vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna) should be used for the over 70’s, where practicable and timely.

Preferential selection of an mRNA vaccine should not result in a vaccine delay of more than 3 weeks, as any benefit of using a higher efficacy vaccine may be lost.

The expert advice recognised that currently there is limited data on the AstraZeneca vaccine in relation to older age groups. Those aged over 70 are a key priority group for protection because of their greater risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19. A number of other EU countries have made similar decisions with regard to the provision of mRNA vaccines to older people.