Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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212. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 25 May 2022 (details supplied), the advice that National Immunisation Advisory Committee would provide in such circumstances and if it can be left to the discretion of their doctor; if the HSE details and guidelines for Covid boosters for high risk children and their carers can be made available as soon as possible in view that currently only guidelines are available for high risk vulnerable adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31136/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's COVID-19 vaccination programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.

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 the Department of Health based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.

Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.

You can view the guidelines here: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf

The NIAC has recently advised a second booster dose for people over 65 and people with a weak immune system aged 12 and over. The Committee 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.