Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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388. To ask the Minister for Health if he or his Department have taken note of the decision by the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to cease offering a third Covid booster jab to persons aged 16 to 49 years who are not in a clinical risk group at the close of the autumn 2022 vaccination campaign; if he will support such a policy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5348/23]

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 my Department 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 updated guidelines here:

www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf

The NIAC has recommended a third mRNA booster for persons aged 65 years and older, and those aged 12-64 years who are immunocompromised. 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.

A second booster dose is available for all those 18 and older, 12 or older with a condition that puts you at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19, or living in a long-term care facility, a healthcare worker, or if you are pregnant over 16 weeks.

Further information on the booster vaccine rollout can be viewed here:

www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-booster-dose/