Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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543. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider requesting the vaccination strategy team to consider offering a choice of an alternative secondary or primary dose of vaccination to those in the older age groups who already have received a vaccine (details supplied) but who are concerned regarding its efficacy and risks. [29924/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccine as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. The programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The Committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC review all data relating to COVID-19 vaccines on a rolling basis. 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 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 current Guidelines state: There are currently four COVID-19 vaccines authorised for use in Ireland. The vaccines are not interchangeable. For vaccines that have a two dose schedule, the same vaccine should be used for both doses. You can read the guidelines at: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf

There is insufficient evidence to recommend a change from the authorised two-dose Vaxzevria® schedule or to support giving a mRNA vaccine instead of a second dose of Vaxzevria®. There is a need for further evidence on safety and effectiveness of mixed (heterologous) vaccine schedules. Further information is expected in the coming months which may warrant an update of these recommendations.