Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to reducing the time period between the two doses of a vaccine (details supplied) in order to facilitate persons in their 60s who are anxious to be fully vaccinated sooner than those of a younger cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30514/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On 4 June I announced a shorter interval between doses for the Vaxzevria® (AstraZeneca) vaccine. This follows updated recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), which have been endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer. NIAC has concluded that those of any age (without any previous COVID-19 infection), who have received their first dose of Vaxzevria® should receive their second dose 8-12 weeks later.

The HSE recently received updated advice from NIAC in relation to reducing the dosing interval for the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine from 12 weeks to 8. Extensive planning has been required to put in place a programme that will now see the remaining, approximately 450,000 people, in receipt of the AstraZeneca vaccine fully immunised through the administration of this second dose by the end of July.