Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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112. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the uptake of the third Covid-19 booster vaccine. [7765/23]

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.

More than 1.1 million persons have boosted their immunity by receiving a booster dose (first, second or third) since the Autumn/Winter programme commenced on 15 August. As of 12 February, 397,344 people have received a third COVID-19 booster dose, over 41% of approved cohorts. The performance of the booster programme compares favourably to other Member States and Ireland currently ranks first in the EU for third boosters to the 60+ Population.

The NIAC has recommended a third mRNA booster for people 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.