Written answers

Thursday, 18 November 2021

Department of Health

Vaccination Programme

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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337. To ask the Minister for Health if the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be updated to include details of the booster vaccine currently being administered to persons over 60 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56739/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/2014 of 17 November 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1073 laying down technical specifications and rules for the implementation of the trust framework for the EU Digital COVID Certificate established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953 was adopted by the Commission on 17 November and published on 18 November in the Official Journal.

The technical specifications in this Implementing Decision relating to additional Covid vaccination doses are being considered with a view to the issuing of certificates for booster doses.

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme; if consideration is being given to a shortening of the timeline between a person getting the second vaccine and their eligibility for the booster vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56747/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.

On 15 November the NIAC recommended that a booster of an mRNA vaccine be offered to persons aged 16-59 years with underlying conditions, all residents in Long Term Healthcare Facilities and persons aged 50-59 years.

The booster dose should be given after an interval of six months or longer following completion of the primary course of any two-dose Covid-19 vaccine. A minimum interval of five months may be used when necessary for operational reasons. Recipients of Covid-19 vaccine Janssen should receive an mRNA booster dose after an interval of three months.

The NIAC has previously recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) be offered to those aged 60 years and older and healthcare workers. The booster dose should be given after an interval of six months (or at least five months) following the last dose of any authorised Covid-19 vaccine.

The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness, and will make further recommendations if required.

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health when the portal will open for Irish citizens who have received a vaccine outside of the European Union and the UK to request an EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56748/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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. The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation allows for Digital COVID Certificates to be provided to Union citizens vaccinated in a third country provided that the Member State has been provided with reliable proof of vaccination.

From the 18 November the EU Digital COVID Certificate Third Country portal is accessible to all eligible Irish passport holders vaccinated outside of the EU.

This portal will accept applications from individuals vaccinated in a third country, outside of the EU Member States and countries which have been awarded an equivalence decision, who are 18 years of age and older, hold a valid Irish passport, and a reliable proof of vaccination for a vaccine type currently authorised for use in Ireland.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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340. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the Covid-19 vaccination booster programme; the timelines for delivery for all cohorts in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56760/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.

On 15 November, the NIAC recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine be offered to persons aged 16-59 years with underlying conditions, all residents in Long Term Healthcare Facilities and persons aged 50-59 years. The Chief Medical Officer has endorsed the latest NIAC recommendations and written to the HSE requesting they be operationalised as soon as possible.

The NIAC has previously recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) be offered to those aged 60 years and older and healthcare workers. The booster dose should be given after an interval of six months (or at least five months) following the last dose of any authorised Covid-19 vaccine. I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.

The HSE has operational responsibility for the rollout of the Covid 19 booster vaccination programme. As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.

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