Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 October 2020
255. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health his plans to support general practitioners administering the winter flu vaccine; the way in which general practitioner centres will be expecting to manage Covid-19 health and safety protocols during the administration of the flu vaccine; if capacity in the sector has been evaluated before a decision is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30418/20]
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.
It is proposed to administer the vaccines via GPs and pharmacists, as in previous years. Given the importance of significantly increasing the level of uptake of the vaccine for the coming winter, resources will be provided to GPs and pharmacists not only to deliver the vaccination to the expanded groups, but to actively seek relevant patients and deliver vaccinations in a programmatic way, such as through dedicated flu vaccination clinics.
The expanded programme will ensure that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza will have access to vaccination without charges. By providing vaccination to those most at-risk, and those most likely to require hospitalisation if they contract influenza, it is anticipated that the programme will see a reduction in the number of influenza-related hospital admissions, as well as a reduction in the overall spread of influenza in the community.
I have recently signed Regulations which enable pharmacists to provide vaccination services offsite from the pharmacy premises. Providing an influenza vaccination service at non-pharmacy locations has the potential to greatly increase uptake of the influenza vaccine in all the groups, who can avail of the vaccine free of charge in particular those in the at-risk categories, as well as patients wishing to access this service privately. It also enables pharmacists who may be unable to provide a vaccination service on their pharmacy premises during the 2020/21 flu season, to continue to provide this service for their patients and local community, albeit at a different, but safe location. No change was required to permit GPs to administer vaccines away from their surgeries.
Administration of the vaccines has commenced with both regular, opportunistic vaccinations and through dedicated, out-of-hours, vaccination clinics which aim to maximise the number of patients vaccinated in the safest way possible without interfering with the day-to-day running of practices. Special arrangements for the administration of vaccines, such as the dedicated out-of-hours vaccination clinics, will continue to be arranged at the discretion of the GP or pharmacist in accordance the vaccine delivery schedule and their patient’s needs.
In relation to the capacity in the sector, officials from my Department engaged in consultations with the IMO and the IPU in advance of commencing the programme in order to ensure that it could be delivered effectively.
