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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Questions (780, 795, 917, 918, 925, 1001, 1101)

James Lawless

Question:

780. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to put in place a medical exemption certificate for those who have been advised against getting a Covid-19 vaccine for medical reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51986/21]

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Brendan Griffin

Question:

795. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to Covid-19 vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52037/21]

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Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

917. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the provisions that are in place for persons who cannot take any of the Covid-19 vaccines for medical reasons and have not contracted Covid-19 to be able to dine indoors. [52460/21]

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Carol Nolan

Question:

918. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns that a person (details supplied) who has been medically assessed and certified as unsuitable to receive a Covid-19 vaccine is being denied access to a written exemption, thus preventing them from accessing various services and facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52466/21]

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Patrick Costello

Question:

925. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if a person can avail of indoor dining under the EU Digital COVID Certificate requirements in cases in which they received one Covid-19 vaccination which resulted in a severe medical reaction and has been advised not to take a second dose by a medical practitioner. [52486/21]

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Dara Calleary

Question:

1001. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the considerations that are being made for those who are medically certified and advised not to take a Covid-19 vaccine in view of the fact that the use of Covid certificates is now not being discontinued as originally flagged on 22 October 2021; his views on whether such medically certified citizens should be able to avail of some level of Covid-19 pass even weekly or fortnightly antigen testing is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52841/21]

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Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1101. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if there are plans in place to address the fact that persons with myocarditis cannot get the Covid-19 vaccine and therefore do not qualify for an EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53276/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 780, 795, 917, 918, 925, 1001 and 1101 together.

The current high level of COVID-19 infection and the dominance of the significantly more transmissible Delta variant poses a very substantial threat, particularly to those who are not fully protected through vaccination. Public health advice remains that those who are not fully vaccinated should avoid congregated indoor settings for their own and others safety.

The National Public Health Emergency Team gave some consideration to the issues arising for those people that can’t receive a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons as part of its discussions on the 18th October 2021 on the continuing response to COVID-19 and the extension of Covid Pass arrangements. The matter is being given further consideration.

The Deputies may wish to be aware that on 15 July, NIAC made a recommendation, which was endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer and accepted by the Minister for Health that while the preference was for homologous vaccination regimens (using the same vaccine as part of a two dose regime) that selective use of heterologous vaccination schedules (two different vaccines used as part of two dose regime) should be permitted where a second vaccine dose of a homologous regimen is contraindicated, irrespective of whether the first dose was an mRNA or adenoviral vector vaccine. NIAC in conjunction with the RCPI and the Irish Association of Allergy and Immunology have prepared a guide to aid vaccinators and other healthcare workers on how to advise allergic individuals in respect of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, this guide is available here: rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/FAQs-about-COVID19-Vaccines-and-Allergies_12August2021.pdf

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