Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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1679. To ask the Minister for Health if he will initiate a formal audit of nursing home mortality since the beginning of the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out in both private and public nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15102/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In 2020, in the early stages of the pandemic, a once off census of mortality in older peoples services, disability and mental health facilities was conducted, which indicated that deaths in settings such as Older Peoples Services were being reported promptly and comprehensively through the standard process of reporting deaths to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

As of February 2020, under the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020, all medical practitioners are required to notify the Medical Officer of Health in the HSE of certain diseases, including Covid-19.

The case definition for COVID-19 in Ireland has been updated routinely during the pandemic, in accordance with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidance and updates.

Deaths related to COVID-19 are classified as follows:

- Deaths in confirmed COVID-19 case: A death in a person with laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 infection, irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms (including post mortem).

- Deaths in probable COVID-19 case: A death in a person with probable COVID-19 infection as described in the COVID-19 case definition.

- Deaths in possible/suspect COVID-19 case: See below scenarios for possible/suspect cases which should be reported as COVID-19 deaths.

- All deaths in patients suspected of having COVID-19 i.e. patients with symptoms clinically compatible with COVID-19 illness. These suspect cases may or may not have been tested for COVID-19 prior to death. These possible COVID-19 deaths include patients with pending COVID-19 laboratory results.

- All unexplained deaths/sudden deaths in residential facilities with a confirmed/suspected COVID-19 cluster/outbreak of illness unless there is a clear alternative cause of death that cannot be related to COVID-19 disease (e.g. trauma).

Finally, nursing home providers are required to notify the Chief Inspector of HIQA, the independent regulator, about unexpected deaths in their services. These notifications, along with all relevant statutory notifications to the Chief Inspector, are assessed and risk-rated to determine if any regulatory actions are required. These notifications are an important component of the ongoing regulatory oversight of nursing home.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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1680. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department is monitoring and recording the number of deaths in long-term care facilities following administration of the Covid-19 vaccine; and if there is an increase in the confirmed deaths of persons aged over 65 in these settings. [15103/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Authorised vaccines are subject to ongoing monitoring in Ireland by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

Information on national and global safety monitoring experience, including reviews of deaths following vaccination are included in the HPRA and EMA updates published on the respective websites.

The HPRA follows up on reports of suspected adverse reactions received from Healthcare professionals and members of the public through the voluntary reporting system, including any deaths notified following vaccination.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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1681. To ask the Minister for Health if he will enlist the expertise and global logistical contacts of pharma and medical companies in Ireland to accelerate the supply of vaccines to Ireland. [15107/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is participating in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. Six APAs have been negotiated by the Commission under this process to date, of which Ireland is participating in five.

Government approval has been obtained to opt-into a sixth, but this is conditional on certain trial progression criteria being met.

Ireland has opted-in to pro rata allocation of BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Ireland has also secured additional doses of the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine via options and top up contracts, which will bring the current total of BioNTech / Pfizer doses secured to approximately 6.5 million doses. Ireland has also signalled interest in obtaining 1.64 million additional doses of the Moderna vaccine. Ireland now expects to receive a total of 1.1 million doses of three of the four approved vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca) from the start of the vaccination programme to the end of March.

Ireland has signalled its solidarity with the EU approach and has, through its participation, gained access to a broad range of vaccines that it might not otherwise have access to, and at the cost agreed collectively by the EU.

The only substantive limitation on the pace of implementation will be supply. As more vaccines are approved and arrive, the delivery schedule will change.