Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1338. To ask the Minister for Health if persons in quarantine who were fully vaccinated with a vaccine (details supplied) were released on appeal; if any discretion on the quarantine period is provided to those fully vaccinated with this World Health Organisation approved vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42477/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Mandatory hotel quarantine has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19. Currently passengers travelling into Ireland who have valid proof of being vaccinated with an authorised vaccination are not required to complete mandatory hotel quarantine. Dependents, including children, will also be exempted from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine in this instance.

There are 4 European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved vaccines currently accepted in Ireland, each of which have specific definitions for when a person is considered fully vaccinated. The following table outlines the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ in order to qualify for an exemption from mandatory hotel quarantine.

‎At present, the Sinovac vaccine has not received EMA approval. As of 07 September 2021, no appeals to mandatory hotel quarantine have been granted on the basis of persons being fully vaccinated with Sinovac. Similarly, there are no discretions applied to the quarantine period for persons vaccinated with Sinovac.

Neither myself as Minister for Health or my Department have any role in deciding which persons must enter mandatory quarantine or which persons are exempt from entering mandatory quarantine. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.