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Vaccination Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2021

Thursday, 11 March 2021

Questions (220)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

220. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the plans that exist to enable the State to purchase Covid-19 vaccines in autumn 2021 in order to respond to any variants that may materialise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13696/21]

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Written answers

Ireland is participating in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. Six Advance Purchase Agreements (APA) have been negotiated by the Commission under this process to date. Ireland has opted-in to five APAs to secure vaccine supplies: BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen/J&J and CureVac. Government approval has been obtained to opt-into the sixth APA (GSK/Sanofi Pasteur), subject to the outcome of future clinical trial results.

Ireland has opted-in to pro rata allocation of BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Ireland has also secured additional doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine via options and top up contracts, which will bring the current total of BioNTech/Pfizer doses to approximately 6.5 million. Ireland has signalled interest in obtaining 1.64 million additional doses of the Moderna vaccine through a top-up contract.

Ireland has also indicated its intention to opt-in to additional APAs with Valneva and Novavax.

Overall, Ireland has signalled intent to opt-in to contracts for a total of 18.5m doses.

The new European bio-defence preparedness plan against COVID-19 variants called “HERA Incubator” will work with researchers, biotech companies, manufacturers and public authorities in the EU and globally to detect new variants, provide incentives to develop new and adapted vaccines, speed up the approval process for these vaccines, and ensure scaling up of manufacturing capacities.

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