Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1617. To ask the Minister for Health if a residential care worker is deemed not fit to go back to work but cleared to return to work by their cardiologist will be permitted to return to work once fully vaccinated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18456/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On 30^thMarch, the Government update its advice for those who are fully vaccinated. Updated advice states that for those aged over 70 years and over and others at increased risk of severe illness who are fully vaccinated it is generally safe to return to work if their presence on site is essential, for example for certain healthcare workers. This may not apply for those who are at a high risk because of a problem with their immune system. The updated guidance from the HPSC for those most vulnerable to the severe impacts of COVID-19 that have been fully vaccinated is available on the HPSC website ().

In addition, updated occupational health guidance for Fitness for Work of Healthcare Workers in the Higher Risk Categories has been published by the HSE. Again, this advises that those healthcare workers over 70 and those with certain underlying health conditions can return to work once they are fully vaccinated, with the exception of those that are immune-compromised. The guidance is available here:

It is important to emphasise that the current guidance remains that everyone should continue to work from home if they can do so and this also applies to those that are fully vaccinated. It is also important to note that full protection is generally not in place if it has been less than 2 weeks since the second vaccine dose.