Written answers

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Department of Health

Vaccination Programme

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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900. To ask the Minister for Health when Covid-19 booster vaccines will be available for those with autoimmune conditions in particular type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52370/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On 8 September, I announced an update to the Covid-19 vaccination programme following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

The NIAC has recommended a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) for residents aged 65 years and older living in Long Term Residential Care Facilities and for those aged 80 years and older living in the community. The booster dose can be given after a minimum interval of six months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule. I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.

The NIAC has now recommended that a booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech should be offered to all those aged 60-79 who have completed their primary vaccination course with any Covid-19 vaccination. The booster dose should be ideally given 6 months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule (with a minimum interval of 5 months).

The NIAC continues to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for those with waning immunity and reduced effectiveness in other groups, such as those with co-morbidities (under 60 years of age) and healthcare workers and will make further recommendations if required.

Photo of Neasa HouriganNeasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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901. To ask the Minister for Health if he will identify all grades of HSE staff based in a location (details supplied) who received Covid-19 vaccinations in January 2021 ahead of acute and long-stay patients and nursing staff in St. Stephen's Psychiatric Hospital, Glanmire; the time lag between the commencement of vaccinations for staff at the location and the later commencement of vaccinations for patients and nursing staff in St. Stephen's Hospital; the level of HSE management that decided on these staff cohorts receiving vaccines ahead of patients and nursing staff from St. Stephen's Hospital; if primarily office-based staff from other bases within HSE south were scheduled for vaccinations ahead of patients and nursing staff from St. Stephen's Hospital; if so, the grades of staff prioritised; the way HSE management responded to representations made on behalf of St. Stephen's Hospital patients and nursing staff during a period of uncertainty in January 2021 regarding the vaccination schedule for these latter groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52373/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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.

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