Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Health

Vaccination Programme

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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1583. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made further to talks between a union (details supplied) and the HSE regarding the general practitioner provision of Covid-19 vaccines to persons in group 4 of the vaccine schedule; if GPs have been approved to provide these vaccines; and when persons in this group can expect to be scheduled to receive a vaccine. [18344/21]

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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1586. To ask the Minister for Health the status of talks between a union (details supplied) and the HSE on the GP provision of Covid-19 vaccines to persons in group 7 of the vaccine schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18347/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1583 and 1586 together.

Since the commencement of the Covid-19 Pandemic in early 2020, the HSE through the Chief Clinical Officer has in place a forum for ongoing engagement for General Practice involving a senior group comprising clinical and management staff from the HSE with senior colleagues from the IMO and the ICGP. More recently, since early 2021 with the rollout of the vaccination programme a specific working group has been in place of HSE and GP representatives through which the operating guidance and a range of other clinical and logistical matters have been dealt with in supporting General Practice. The working group reports through the Chief Clinical Officer and the HSE Governance arrangements.

Specifically in relation to the rollout of Cohort 3 (over 70s) and Cohorts 4 and 7 (Medically Vulnerable), the HSE has in place an ongoing process of engagement with the IMO in dealing with the rollout of the vaccination programme in agreeing the arrangements and detailed plans to apply. Earlier in April 2021, a detailed plan was prepared and agreed with the IMO for the rollout of AstraZeneca for Cohorts 4 and 7. In line with discussions with the IMO, the HSE has put in place, a Covid support team to address issues arising on a day-to-day basis and to monitor and manage the impact of potential changes on various aspects of the programme (i.e. delivery schedules, consumable logistics, revised cohort start/finish dates etc.)

More recently, the HSE Covid-19 vaccination rollout plans have been updated in accordance with the new guidance issued by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in relation to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The HSE has reached agreement with the IMO in relation to the vaccination of Cohort 4 (patients at very high-risk), and Cohort 7 (patients at high-risk) in line with this new NIAC clinical guidance and a re-calibrated plan was communicated by the IMO and a Webinar held with well over 2,000 participants. GPs are now identifying the number of patients to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine so that the delivery schedules can proceed.

A significant number of those in Cohort 4 have been vaccinated through the acute settings. While GPs may vaccinate any patients from within this cohort, GPs are asked to focus on those with Diabetes with HbA1c>58mmol in last 12 months, Obesity – BMI >40, Chronic Respiratory Disease – on home oxygen or hospitalised in the past 12 months. In respect of those in Cohort 7, GP’s have been asked to identify and administer vaccine to the majority of this cohort. If it emerges that for any reason some patients in the very high-risk Cohort 4 have not been captured, they will be accommodated as GP’s work through Cohort 7 patients. The overall approach envisages commencing in GP practices on the week of 26th April with the prioritisation of those in the very high-risk cohort (Cohort 4) in a 3 – 4 week period, and moving seamlessly onto those in the high-risk cohort (Cohort 7).

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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1584. To ask the Minister for Health the way Covid-19 vaccines will be provided to group 4 persons who have a disability and are not in a residential setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18345/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is operational, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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1585. To ask the Minister for Health the way Covid-19 vaccines will be provided to group 4 persons who are housebound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18346/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is operational, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

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