Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1549. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who is over 70 years of age and has an underlying health condition will receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18210/21]

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.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1550. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who have received the Covid-19 vaccination that have died within 28 days of receiving this vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18213/21]

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.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1551. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons that have received vaccination ahead of the cohort they are sequenced in; the circumstances in which this occurred; if there is a notification process for vaccines used out of sequence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18226/21]

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.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1552. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place to vaccinate those with heart failure against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18237/21]

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:

People with heart failure will be vaccinated in Cohort 7 (People aged 16-64 who have an underlying condition that puts them at high risk of severe disease and death).