Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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200. To ask the Minister for Health the strategy for the Covid-19 pandemic from now until the end of 2022; the strategies for further vaccine and booster roll-outs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37515/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 860 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.

COVID-19 vaccination has been a central pillar of the public health response to the pandemic and remains an important component of the multifaceted approach in the ongoing management of the disease.

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.

The NIAC advised in April that they consider it likely that a third booster dose will be required for older persons and the immunocompromised in Autumn/Winter 2022. It continues to actively examine the evidence regarding the likely benefit of a second booster to other groups, vaccine choice and interval considering the likely predominant variant in order to make further recommendations in this regard.

The HSE has developed a revised operating model to underpin the continuation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Autumn/Winter 2022.