Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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630. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will introduce specific and discrete vaccination certification for the small but important number of vaccinees whose severe adverse reaction to the first dose precludes on strict medical grounds their completion of the vaccine cycle (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45003/21]

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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631. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to assist the small number of persons who require Covid-19 vaccination completion for their workplace but whose severe adverse reaction to the first dose precludes their receiving the second; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45004/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 631 together.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate enable the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that the possession of an EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a pre-condition to travel.

The underpinning EU Digital COVID Certificate regulation concerns the issuing and verification of certificates for medical events including vaccination, recovery, and testing related to COVID-19. The EU Digital COVID Certificate regulation, and subsequent associated national regulations, do not allow for the issuing of a certificate for individuals who have not had a medical event as outlined.

Individuals may request a Digital COVID Certificate as proof of a single dose of vaccination given in Ireland if they wish.

The indoor dining regulations (SI 385/2021 as amended) provide for the use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate (amongst other proofs ) to access indoor hospitality. There is currently no provision for persons who cannot provide proof of vaccination or recovery (apart from a minor accompanied by a parent or guardian or a person who is on site in a professional capacity) to access indoor hospitality premises.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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632. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether it is discriminatory to leave persons who suffered major adverse reaction to the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and are unable to get the second in effective certification limbo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45005/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE has been advised to operationalise updated NIAC guidance in relation to the mixing of vaccines, specifically relating to certain people who are yet to complete a two-dose Covid-19 vaccine regimen.

The NIAC advice on heterologous vaccination relates to:

- those who are contraindicated from taking a second vaccine dose of a viral vector vaccine (e.g. had a severe reaction to the first dose of Vaxzevira® (AstraZeneca)) should be offered a second dose of an mRNA vaccine.

- those who have already had the first dose of Vaxzevria® and who did not complete the vaccination schedule as recommended should be offered an mRNA second dose in line with their priority grouping or age cohort.

The person would then be considered fully vaccinated after their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (7 days after Comirnaty®, 14 days after Spikevax®).

The Digital COVID Certificate was designed to support safe travel within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a requirement for travel, but rather a record of a medical event.

Under the EU regulation persons are entitled to request a Digital COVID Certificate stating they have received a single dose of vaccination in an EU Member State. Such requests can be made through the helpline.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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633. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the vaccination status and appropriate data for the number of pregnant women and their partners who have or are currently attending maternity services in University Maternity Hospital Limerick from January 2021 to September 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45017/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.