Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Health

Vaccination Programme

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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2425. To ask the Minister for Health the plans and timelines for the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out in County Donegal for housebound persons by the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20793/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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.

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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2426. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long on a vaccine; the reason they are not made a priority for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20815/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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 23rd of 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 30th of 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:

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee's (NIAC's) 'Updated Recommendations: Priority Groups for COVID-19 Vaccination', dated 29 March 2021, states the following:

"No vaccine has currently been approved for ages younger than 16 years.

Vaccine trials in children are planned or underway for all four authorised COVID-19 vaccine, with results expected in 2021.

There is no evidence to recommend vaccination of children at present. NIAC will keep this under review."

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