Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
679. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if there will be a sufficient supply of the flu vaccine for all who choose to have it administered in the coming months; if he foresees a shortage of flu vaccine; his plans to have the vaccine rolled out to all schools here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28374/20]
View answerGiven the potential for the winter flu season in 2020/2021 to coincide with a resurgence of COVID, and the importance of minimising hospital attendance, the Government is expanding the provision of vaccination without charge to all of those in the at-risk groups, including healthcare workers, and to all children aged from 2 to 12 years inclusive.
The programme is being offered through GP’s and pharmacists and is not being delivered as a schools-based programme, as not all eligible children are of school age.
1.35 million doses of the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine have been ordered this year, to be made available to all persons in an at-risk group aged from 6 months up. The HSE has also ordered 600,000 doses of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine, which is delivered via nasal drops rather than by injection and will be made available to children aged from 2 to 12 years.
The HSE is confident that the number of doses procured is sufficient to meet demand in the at-risk groups and this element of the vaccination programme has commenced. The vaccination programme for children is expected to commence from mid-October.
Those not covered by the publicly funded influenza vaccination programme can avail of influenza vaccination from GPs and pharmacists on a private basis. I understand that deliveries of the private supply of the intramuscular vaccine are expected to commence in the coming days. The Health Products Regulatory Authority Medicine Shortages Framework has not been notified of any shortages affecting the Irish market in relation to flu vaccines.
