Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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560. To ask the Minister for Health the number of flu vaccines that were administered to children in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25650/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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To reduce the burden on the health services that would result from a coincidence of the winter flu season and a resurgence of COVID-19, an extended influenza vaccination programme was implemented for winter 2020/21. Under the programme, all of those in the HSE-defined at-risk groups aged from 6 months up, and all children aged from 2 to 12 years inclusive had access to vaccination without charges; this age group was further expanded to include all children aged from 2 to 17 years inclusive.

As of 10th June, 225,678 claims for reimbursement from GPs and pharmacists for the administration of LAIV (nasal vaccine) to children have been received, 51,812 claims for the administration of QIV (injected vaccine) to children have also been received.