Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1400. To ask the Minister for Health if retail staff in health stores who provide health advice to customers on a personal basis and have remained open throughout the pandemic will be considered essential workers under the vaccination schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14125/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On the 23^rdof February 2021, 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:

The next cohort to be vaccinated (Cohort 4) are those aged 16-69 and at very high risk of severe illness and death. Vaccination of this group began in March.

The ongoing review process will continue to look at the other priority groups yet to be vaccinated, along with the competing needs of those working or living in high-risk situations, carers who deliver essential services to highly dependent individuals in the home setting, and those who are socially vulnerable/disadvantaged.

It is important to emphasise that vaccination is only one part of our response to the prevention of COVID-19 infection. People who are vaccinated need to continue with all the public health measures that have been proven to reduce the risk of infection, i.e., limiting our social contacts, physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoiding non-essential travel until a sufficiently large proportion of the population are immune.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1401. To ask the Minister for Health if Covid-19 vaccination priority strategy level 2 includes members of the dental team; the measures implemented to ensure that all patient-facing workers in dental practices have been vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14130/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On the 23^rdof February 2021, 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:

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b44b2-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-vaccine-allocation-strategy/ 

The next cohort to be vaccinated (Cohort 4) are those aged 16-69 and at very high risk of severe illness and death. Vaccination of this group began in March.  

Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in direct patient contact roles are being vaccinated in Cohort 2. This includes HCWs working in public, private, and voluntary settings. Other HCWs, not in direct patient contact, will be vaccinated in Cohort 6. 

It is important to emphasise that vaccination is only one part of our response to the prevention of COVID-19 infection. People who are vaccinated need to continue with all the public health measures that have been proven to reduce the risk of infection, i.e., limiting our social contacts, physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoiding non-essential travel until a sufficiently large proportion of the population are immune. 

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

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1402. To ask the Minister for Health the number of personnel from dental practices who have received their first and second vaccination for Covid-19 as of 9 March 2021, by county, in tabular form; the estimated number, by each county, who have yet to receive a vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14131/21]

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.