Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1805. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to further prioritising cardiac patients within the vaccine allocation groupings in view of the recognition of recent prioritisation of other medical conditions with regard to vaccine allocation and the severity of many cardiac conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15512/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On the 23rd of 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.

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.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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1806. To ask the Minister for Health the role a company (details supplied) is playing in the provision of contact tracing; the cost of the contract; the amount spent on management consultancy fees in 2020 and to date in 2021; if the hiring of the company went through a normal procurement procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15516/21]

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.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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1807. To ask the Minister for Health if agency workers involved in contact tracing are bound by HSE policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15517/21]

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.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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1808. To ask the Minister for Health the category that pharmacy technicians are in to receive the Covid-19 vaccination; when this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15518/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On the 23rd of 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.

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.