Vaccination Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Questions (930)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

930. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the process available for persons who have received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine but have been advised on medical grounds not to get the second dose of the same vaccine; the persons or bodies such persons can contact to resolve this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52512/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The Committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.The 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 is published in Chapter 5a of the Immunisation Guidelines and is available at the link below:

www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf.

The Immunisation Guidelines state that those individuals who have been administered a first dose of Vaxzevria® (AstraZeneca) and who did not subsequently complete their vaccination schedule as intended, should be offered an mRNA vaccine. Those who receive a heterologous schedule should be considered fully vaccinated after their second vaccine (7 days after Comirnaty® (Pfizer/BioNTech), 14 days after Spikevax® (Moderna).

Individuals with a contraindication to one mRNA Covid-19 vaccine should not receive another authorised mRNA vaccine. Consideration may be given to adenoviral vector vaccination for anyone 18 and older including pregnant women. This should be given after an interval of at least 28 days and the person should be considered fully vaccinate.

As responsibility for the vaccine rollout lies with the Health Service Executive they should be contacted directly regarding any issues.