Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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424. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding a vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32887/21]

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 the Department of Health. 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 include 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. The NIAC will continue to review the evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of a heterologous vaccination strategy (using a different vaccine for the first and subsequent doses of a multi-dose schedule) as it becomes available.

You can read the guidelines at:

www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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425. To ask the Minister for Health when a vaccine (details supplied) will be recommended in Ireland for the age group of 12 to 15 years of age in particular those in this age group with underlying conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32896/21]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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431. To ask the Minister for Health when children aged 12 to 15 with conditions leading to a higher risk of severe outcomes from Covid-19 can expect to be vaccinated following the recent approval by the European Medicines Agency of a vaccine (details supplied) for children aged 12 to 15. [32960/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 431 together.

Ireland welcomes the EMA age extension recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty to include use in children aged 12 to 15. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee is reviewing the matter and will make a recommendation as appropriate. Currently, Ireland's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is administering vaccines to those aged 16+.

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. The 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 the NIAC in relation to reducing the dose 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 and it is expected to be substantially completed by 19 July.