Written answers

Wednesday, 30 June 2021

Department of Health

Vaccination Programme

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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238. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 525 of 5 May 2021, his understanding of the effectiveness of each vaccine authorised for use in Ireland against each identified variant of Covid-19 in tabular form; his understanding of the relative effectiveness of first dose and two doses against each variant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27763/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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. Each of the authorised vaccines are indicated for the active immunisation to prevent Covid-19. The vaccine manufacturers are required to ensure that their products remain safe and effective for the authorised indication of prevention of Covid-19.

The European Commission (EC) has granted conditional marketing authorisations (CMA) to four vaccines against COVID-19 on foot of a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the EMA and authorisation for use by the EC, 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.

Currently there are limited information from clinical trials with respect to protection against emerging variants. Emerging variants require continuous monitoring of the vaccines’ performance over time. A recent study conducted by Public Health England suggests that vaccine effectiveness is maintained against emerging variants of the disease with available data set out in table below.

Available here: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/997414/Variants_of_Concern_VOC_Technical_Briefing_16.pdf

Vaccine Symptomatic Disease Hospitalisation
Alpha Delta Alpha Delta
Pfizer / BioNTech
Dose One 49% 33% 83% 94%
Dose Two 93% 88% 95% 96%
AstraZeneca
Dose One 51% 33% 76% 71%
Dose Two 66% 60% 86% 92%

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