Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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529. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the vaccine booster programme for those under 50 years of age who received a vaccine (details supplied). [62545/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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603. To ask the Minister for Health when Covid-19 booster vaccines will be provided to those under 50 years of age who received the single dose vaccine (details supplied) in view of its rapid waning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62862/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 603 together.

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 the 13th December, the NIAC recommended that the interval between the primary vaccine series and booster dose should be reduced to three months. In making its latest recommendations, NIAC has reiterated the need for booster vaccines to be offered to those in previously recommended groups before progression to the younger age cohorts.

The NIAC 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 50 years and older, aged 16-59 years with underlying conditions, all residents in Long Term Healthcare Facilities and healthcare workers. 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 also recommended a booster of an mRNA vaccine be offered to persons aged 16-49 years in descending order by age e.g., by 10 year age cohorts with the exception of COVID-19 vaccine Janssen recipients who can be offered a booster vaccine in parallel with those aged 30-39 years. I have accepted this advice and the HSE is actively engaged in planning to operationalise these recommendations. The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines and will make further recommendations if required.