Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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409. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale for not vaccinating members of An Garda Síochána as front-line workers. [25245/21]

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 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:

It is important to note that the NIAC has advised that there is no evidence to show a significantly increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease, independent of age and other comorbidities, in any occupational group other than front-line healthcare workers to prioritise them for vaccination above their age-cohort.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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410. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the waving of mandatory hotel quarantine for persons who are vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines not yet approved by the European Medicines Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25246/21]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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444. To ask the Minister for Health when persons fully vaccinated with a vaccine (details supplied) will be able to travel here without the need to enter mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25331/21]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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445. To ask the Minister for Health the requirements regarding mandatory hotel quarantine for Irish citizens returning to Ireland from the UAE in July 2021 who have been working in the UAE and have been vaccinated there with a vaccine (details supplied). [25345/21]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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466. To ask the Minister for Health if he is considering exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine for persons who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with a vaccine (details supplied); if he will take into account that on 7 May 2021, the World Health Organization approved the vaccine as a suitable and recognized vaccine for protection against Covid-19; if he will discuss this matter at the earliest convenience with the National Public Health Emergency Team and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25485/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 410, 444, 445 and 466 together.

As of 17th April, passengers who are fully vaccinated and have the documents to confirm this are no longer required to complete mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival in Ireland. Dependents, including children, will also be exempted from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine in this instance.

Please note that the 4 EMA approved vaccines currently accepted have specific definitions for when a person would be considered fully vaccinated.

The following table sets out the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’;

Fully vaccinated travellers are still required to have a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test and complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever specified in their passenger locator form.

Ireland supports the EU Procurement Process, the purpose of which is to secure safe and efficacious vaccines for EU citizens.

Covid 19 vaccines can only be approved and used if they comply with all the requirements of quality, safety and efficacy set out in the EU pharmaceutical legislation. No vaccine will be used until Market authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is obtained and any authorised vaccine will be subject to ongoing monitoring in Ireland by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

The delivery of vaccines under APAs that the Commission has negotiated on behalf of Member States are predicated upon a CMA being obtained from the Commission (on the basis of a positive recommendation being awarded by the EMA).

The awarding of a CMA provides a high level of assurance that a vaccine has undergone rigorous testing and has met the requirements of the independent regulatory process as regards demonstrating its safety and efficacy.

The Sinopharm vaccine has not been awarded a CMA to date.

The provisions of the Act allow for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine; however, this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun. Requests for review can be based only on a limited number of grounds and public health will remain a paramount consideration. The SLO (Irish Defence Forces) in the hotel can provide further information on how to apply.

It is important to note that the list of designated states will be subject to change at short notice and passengers are required to check the list before travelling to Ireland, to be sure of their obligations.

Neither I as Minister for Health or my Department have any role in deciding which persons must enter mandatory quarantine or which persons are exempt from entering mandatory quarantine. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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411. To ask the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the NIAC on the review of age limit for vaccination in particular the inclusion of children in the 12 to 15 age group who are in the very-high risk category for Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25247/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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COVID-19 vaccines can only be approved and used if they comply with all the requirements of quality, safety and efficacy set out in the EU pharmaceutical legislation. No vaccine will be used until Market authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is obtained and any authorised vaccine will be subject to ongoing monitoring in Ireland by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and includes guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.

The EMA has announced that it had started to evaluate an application to extend the use of the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech) to include young people aged 12 to 15. The EMA will communicate on the outcome of its evaluation, which is expected in June unless supplementary information is needed.

This vaccine is currently authorised for use in people aged 16 and older and is being used as part of Ireland’s vaccination programme since the 29 December 2021.