Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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536. To ask the Minister for Health if he will facilitate the provision of Covid vaccine via community pharmacists to maximise the vaccine uptake; if an evaluation has been carried out as to the reason some cohorts of the population are below the national average when it comes to uptake; if availability in rural areas and travel distances is a factor; if consideration could be given to community pharmacies targeting those who have not yet availed of the vaccine within their age cohort; if he plans to utilise pharmacists in the vaccine roll-out; if so, when they can expect to be providing vaccines to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27349/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Community Pharmacists have now joined the Vaccination Programme, providing Janssen for people 50 and over who have not yet been vaccinated. Participating pharmacies have commenced scheduling appointments with members of the public.

There is an initial commitment of 60,000 vaccines to be distributed to 750 pharmacies that registered interest in providing a COVID-19 vaccination service. This will be reviewed as more Janssen supply becomes available and as priorities develop further.

Deliveries commenced week beginning 14th June and continued each day during this week delivering to approximately 650 pharmacies with the balance to receive deliveries on the week beginning 21st June when they have fully registered.

The HSE is running a communication campaign in collaboration with the Irish Pharmacy Union around the Janssen programme in Pharmacies. Uptake remains strong overall for the vaccination programme.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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537. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for their vaccinations; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27350/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.