Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1511. To ask the Minister for Health the position of persons with Addison’s disease on the vaccine roll-out; his views on the frustration and lack of clarity experienced by those with Addison’s and other rare diseases at a failure to communicate their cohort in the vaccine roll-out; and if a commitment will be given to provide clarity in relation to same. [18108/21]

Stephen 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.

On the 23^rdof 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.

On the 30^thof March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and my Department , following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).

The move to an age-based model better supports the programme objectives by:

protecting those at highest risk of severe disease first, which benefits everyone most;

facilitating planning and execution of the programme across the entire country;

improving transparency and fairness.

Further details are available here:

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1512. To ask the Minister for Health if staff at a facility (details supplied) have received vaccinations outside of NIAC protocols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18114/21]

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 Advance Purchase Agreements (APA) have been negotiated by the Commission under this process to date.

Vaccines are being made available without charge to all persons resident in the State.

Ireland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccines as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

The programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.

Vaccines are being allocated in line with the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy.

Further information on the Strategy is available here:

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