Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1055. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many expectant parents are still being refused access to their partner for pre-natal appointments, delivery and hospital visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41672/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1056. To ask the Minister for Health if he will make available the public health data underpinning the continued closure of large indoor activity, leisure and exercise centres in excess of 500 sq. m; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41680/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres reopened on 7 June for individual training. Swimming lessons and classes were also permitted to take place.

As outlined in COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting, which was published by Government on 31 August, organised indoor group activities including sports and dance classes can take place from 20 September with capacity limits of 100 people where all patrons are immune (vaccinated or recovered) or accompanied minors. Where patrons have mixed immunity status, pods of up to 6 participants will be permitted with multiple pods permitted subject to appropriate social distancing being maintained. These arrangements are also applicable to leisure facilities (including bowling, snooker halls, indoor play centres amusement arcades) where patrons have defined areas which are pre-booked.

Based on the criteria of at or close to 90% of people 16 or over being fully vaccinated in the coming weeks and having regard to the incidence and behaviour of the disease at that time, from 22 October onwards, remaining restrictions on indoor sports activities and other indoor leisure/community activities will be lifted.

Since the onset of the pandemic, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland due to the huge effort of people across the country. Thanks to the hard work of the Irish people and the progress of our vaccination programme, we are now entering a new phase in the management of the pandemic. As our approach to the management of COVID-19 transitions from population wide restrictions to guidance we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours, including in relation to self-isolation and restricting movements when advised, observing good respiratory and hand hygiene, physical distancing and mask wearing when appropriate.

COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting can be found online: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f5291-post-cabinet-statement-covid-19-reframing-the-challenge-continuing-our-recovery-and-reconnecting/

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1057. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the Department of Education instructions which advise pregnant teachers that they are to return to work in September whether they are vaccinated or not; the way in which sending pregnant women into an environment in which they face possible Covid-19 infection for them and their unborn child can be justified given the presence of new and more infections strains in Ireland. [41693/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recently updated its recommendations regarding vaccination for pregnant women. In April of this year, NIAC advised that pregnant women should be offered an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination between 14-36 weeks’ gestation following an individual benefit/risk discussion with their obstetric care giver.

Following a review of the most recent evidence and in the context of the Delta variant, NIAC has recommended that the previous term limits for receiving a vaccine by a pregnant woman should be removed and pregnant women and adolescents from 12 years and above should be offered an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at any stage of pregnancy, following an individual benefit/risk discussion with their obstetric care giver. NIAC also point to a growing accumulation of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in this cohort, which indicate that the benefits of vaccination outweigh any known or potential risks of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

NIAC have also recommended that there should be enhanced efforts to increase vaccine uptake in pregnant women, their partners and eligible household contacts, in order to protect both mother and baby from serious harm as a result of COVID-19.