Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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901. To ask the Minister for Health when a decision to extend an additional booster to those aged under 65 years will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34430/22]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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914. To ask the Minister for Health when it is expected that healthcare workers will receive the second Covid vaccine booster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34445/22]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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918. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to a new booster programme for high-risk groups under the age of 65 years such as those with severe asthma; if such groups will be prioritised in any new booster programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34477/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 901, 914 and 918 together.

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.