Written answers

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

Department of Health

Vaccination Programme

Photo of Marian HarkinMarian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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883. To ask the Minister for Health if persons under 16 years of age with chronic medical conditions will be included in the Covid-19 vaccination programme; if not, the rationale for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11641/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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: 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 began in February.

On the 23rdof February, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy.

In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing severe disease or death.

The NIAC has now been able to more comprehensively identify those medical conditions and to distinguish between those which place a person at very high or high risk of severe disease if they contract the virus. Medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed.

The NIAC continues to monitor data around this disease and indeed emerging data on effectiveness of vaccines on a rolling basis.

Further details are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b44b2-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-vaccine-allocation-strategy/.

There are currently three authorised COVID-19 vaccines in use in Ireland:

COVID-19 (Pfizer/BioNTech), COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna and COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

COVID-19 (Pfizer/BioNTech) is licensed for active immunisationto prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, in individuals 16 years of age and older.

COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna is licensed foractive immunisation to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, in individuals 18 years of age and older.

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is licensed for active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, in individuals 18 years of age and older.

There are no data available on vaccine safety and efficacy in people under 16 years.

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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884. To ask the Minister for Health the amount that practice nurses are being paid per vaccination or per hour to administer Covid-19 vaccines; the amount general practitioners and other doctors are being paid per vaccination or per hour to administer Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11645/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs and pharmacists are private practitioners, and as such require the setting of fees payable for the administration of vaccines against Covid-19; whereas practice nurses are employed by GPs and paid by their employer. Where fees are paid to GPs, these are intended to include the full costs of scheduling and administering the vaccine and must cover not only GP pay, but also the additional payments to practice nurses and practice administrators who will be involved in providing vaccinations outside of normal clinic hours, as well as the additional costs of cleaning surgeries. Public healthcare workers are remunerated on a salary basis under the terms of their employment.

The fees payable to GPs and pharmacists were set following consultation with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Pharmacy Union. A fee of €25 per vaccine dose, and a once-off €10 per patient administration fee, will be payable to GPs and pharmacists for the administration of such vaccines outside of HSE-run mass-vaccination clinics, e.g. in GP practices and pharmacies. An hourly fee of €120 and €70 will be payable to GPs and pharmacists respectively for vaccination services provided in HSE-run mass-vaccination clinics. The fees reflect the amount of time required, additional administrative requirements and complexity, and the level of post-vaccination care likely needed.

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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885. To ask the Minister for Health if it is planned to have Covid-19 vaccines administered by dentists, pharmacists or other medical professionals; if so, the amount it is planned to pay them per vaccination or per hour to administer Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11646/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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.

Photo of Chris AndrewsChris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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887. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the residents and staff of a facility (details supplied) have not been given their Covid-19 vaccinations; and when they will receive the vaccine. [11676/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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.

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