Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021
653. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the criteria used to confirm whether persons in group 9 who are living or working in crowded settings includes prisons; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23204/21]
View answerIn its latest review, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has considered, with the support of a HIQA evidence review, those who meet the criteria of living and/or working in conditions which make social distancing difficult and have identified certain groups who are at higher risk of severe disease.
The composition of this cohort, on the basis that the NIAC has advised that there is an established higher risk of infection and severe disease for these groups, has been confirmed as follows:
1. Travellers;
2. Roma Community; and
3. Addiction Service Users.
The Vaccine Allocation Strategy will be kept under review and may be amended as a result of changes to existing evidence and/or the epidemiological situation. The HSE is currently considering how best to rollout the COVID-19 vaccination programme to reach these groups.
