Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1660. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria used to define the groups of persons in group 9 who are living or working in crowded settings; and the proposed arrangements to verify the eligibility of such persons when booking and receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. [18586/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In its latest review, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has considered, with the support of a HIQA evidence review, those who meet the criteria of living and/or working in conditions which make social distancing difficult and have identified certain groups who are at higher risk of severe disease

The composition of this cohort, on the basis that the NIAC has advised that there is an established higher risk of infection and severe disease for these groups, has been confirmed as follows:

1. Travellers;

2. Roma Community; and

3. Addiction Service Users.

The Vaccine Allocation Strategy will be kept under review and may be amended as a result of changes to existing evidence and/or the epidemiological situation. The HSE is currently considering how best to rollout the COVID-19 vaccination programme to reach these groups.