Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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2586. To ask the Minister for Health if it is a requirement for all pharmacists administering a vaccine (details supplied) to follow the standard operating procedures in relation to confirming consent which requires pharmacists to ensure that all vaccine recipients are made fully aware of benefits and risks of vaccine and side effects; if all pharmacists are following the procedure; if pharmacists have received necessary training; if they are in receipt of all relevant data and have been made fully aware of the full range of side effects and benefits of the vaccine as necessary to follow the procedure and ensure informed consent; the actions that can be taken in cases in which a pharmacist fails to follow the procedure in relation to confirming informed consent; the training pharmacists have received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38284/21]

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.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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2587. To ask the Minister for Health if those who have received one dose of an EMA approved Covid-19 vaccine who have also recovered from Covid-19 in the previous six months are considered fully vaccinated given the HSE Covid Bulletins 22 and 23 pages 2 and 3 respectively imply that the HSE is not operating this advice and using a two dose system for this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38293/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccines 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 practices 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 NIAC 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.

You can read the guidelines at:

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

The guidelines advise that those diagnosed with COVID-19 within the previous nine months, aged under 50 years and not immunocompromised are considered fully vaccinated after receiving a single dose. It is advised that those aged under 50 years and immunocompromised and those aged older than 50 should receive a full vaccine regimen.

The HSE will continue to offer all people a second dose, regardless of a positive COVID-19 test. The option will remain for individuals to choose not to take their second dose if they so wish.