Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Questions (1017, 1018, 1035, 1036, 1047, 1080, 1085, 1086, 1091)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1017. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when nurses in general practitioner practices will receive the Covid-19 vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1404/21]

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1018. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if nurses working in ICU will receive the Covid-19 vaccination in round one (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1405/21]

Matt Carthy

Question:

1035. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if persons who work in Covid-19 testing centres will be prioritised to receive vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1544/21]

Matt Carthy

Question:

1036. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when the Covid-19 vaccination programme will be provided to those who work in education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1545/21]

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

1047. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when he expects the vaccine to be made available to residents and staff of services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1614/21]

Dara Calleary

Question:

1080. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will consider prioritising undertakers and their staff for Covid-19 vaccination given the importance of their work and their ongoing potential exposure to Covid-19 and Covid-related illnesses at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1753/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

1085. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if he will classify general practitioners as front-line healthcare workers within the second vaccine allocation group under the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1767/21]

Colm Burke

Question:

1086. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if pharmacists and pharmacy staff will be considered front-line healthcare workers in the context of the Covid-19 vaccination programme and will be vaccinated at the beginning of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout; the schedule of vaccination for these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1771/21]

Dara Calleary

Question:

1091. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when the Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out to members of An Garda Síochána; and if he will increase the priority given to the force in the text of the challenges facing it in its daily duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1777/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1017, 1018, 1035, 1036, 1047, 1080, 1085, 1086 and 1091 together.

The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.

The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.

All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.

The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.

Further information on the Strategy can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.

Question No. 1019 answered with Question No. 798.