Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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1448. To ask the Minister for Health when persons with bullous emphysema stage 3 can expect to be vaccinated against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14256/21]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1491. To ask the Minister for Health the cohort a person with late-stage bullous emphysema falls under within the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14401/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1448 and 1491 together.

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.  

In relation to the categories of very high risk and high risk conditions, this list is not exhaustive. It may also include people who have been classed as at very high risk, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of need. It is recommended that they discuss this with their treating physician who is in the best position to give you appropriate advice. 

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.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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1449. To ask the Minister for Health the instruction that has issued to general practitioners and specialists as to which group decides the severity of disease for vaccination classification, given that some patients are being referred by general practitioners to specialists and from those specialists back again to general practitioners in the pursuit of such classification of severity and consequent vaccination placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14257/21]

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.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1450. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a medical practice (details supplied) has not received a supply of Covid-19 vaccine despite ordering same; when it will receive such a supply; if the practice will receive sufficient supplies to vaccinate all the over 70 year old cohort and those on the medical priority list under that age with a first vaccine immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14259/21]

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.