Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

Questions (702)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

702. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the plans in place for the distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine when available; the categories of persons it is intended to prioritise; the number of doses of the vaccine secured to date; the companies from which they have been secured; the estimated cost per unit; the anticipated number of units required; if the vaccine will be administered to all persons free of charge; the persons or bodies by which the vaccine will be administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39944/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme, as soon as one or more vaccines in the EU portfolio are approved for use. In this regard, a cross-Government High-Level Taskforce has been established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme.

Policy in relation to the order in which people should be offered vaccination is being developed as a priority in conjunction with the national experts on immunisation and it is expected that the NPHET will shortly finalise its advice to Government in this regard.

Ireland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. The arrangements are intended to ensure co-ordinated action at European level to vaccinate the EU population. As part of the exercise, Ireland has already opted into an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) with the British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca (partnering with Oxford University); Janssen (Johnson & Johnson); BioNTech / Pfizer; and CureVac.