Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
576. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to flu vaccines; the number of vaccines available for administration immediately; the timeline for future deliveries; if every person who needs the vaccine can receive it in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31003/20]
View answerThe 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. Vaccines will be administered via GPs and pharmacists, as in previous years.
The HSE has placed orders for 1.35 million doses of the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV) for the forthcoming winter. This vaccine will be made available to all persons in an at-risk group from 6 months up. The HSE has also ordered 600,000 doses of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV), which is delivered via nasal drops rather than by injection and will be made available to all children aged from 2 to 12 years old inclusive.
Following a delay in the delivery of the first batch of vaccines, the first deliveries of the QIV influenza vaccines to all sites (GPs, pharmacists, nursing homes etc.) started on 17th September, with deliveries continuing to all sites every two weeks.
By the end of the second cycle of deliveries, in the week ending 9 October, approximately 800,000 doses of influenza vaccine were delivered to over 3,000 sites across the country. This represents an increase of 25% in quantities of vaccine delivered when compared with 2019. To date all sites have received 75% of the quantity used last season, and the allowance for the third delivery which began from 15th October will increase this to 90%. Further stocks will be available for the fourth round of deliveries.
The HSE is satisfied that sufficient vaccine has been ordered to vaccinate all those in the HSE defined at-risk groups and all shipments will have arrived into Ireland before the end of October. The current distribution process to GP, pharmacists, hospitals and nursing homes will ensure an equitable distribution of the vaccine to all target groups for vaccination around the country.
Deliveries of the children’s flu vaccine started on the 28th of September, and all of the total order of 600,000 doses is expected by mid-October, as planned.
Those not covered by the publicly funded influenza vaccination programme can avail of influenza vaccination from GPs and pharmacists on a private basis. It is understood that stocks of vaccine for private administration are now being distributed. The Health Products Regulatory Authority Shortages Framework has not been informed of any influenza vaccine shortages affecting the Irish market.
