Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021
632. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is discriminatory to leave persons who suffered major adverse reaction to the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and are unable to get the second in effective certification limbo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45005/21]
View answerThe HSE has been advised to operationalise updated NIAC guidance in relation to the mixing of vaccines, specifically relating to certain people who are yet to complete a two-dose Covid-19 vaccine regimen.
The NIAC advice on heterologous vaccination relates to:
- those who are contraindicated from taking a second vaccine dose of a viral vector vaccine (e.g. had a severe reaction to the first dose of Vaxzevira® (AstraZeneca)) should be offered a second dose of an mRNA vaccine.
- those who have already had the first dose of Vaxzevria® and who did not complete the vaccination schedule as recommended should be offered an mRNA second dose in line with their priority grouping or age cohort.
The person would then be considered fully vaccinated after their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (7 days after Comirnaty®, 14 days after Spikevax®).
The Digital COVID Certificate was designed to support safe travel within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a requirement for travel, but rather a record of a medical event.
Under the EU regulation persons are entitled to request a Digital COVID Certificate stating they have received a single dose of vaccination in an EU Member State. Such requests can be made through the helpline.
