Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2021
340. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the Covid-19 vaccination booster programme; the timelines for delivery for all cohorts in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56760/21]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
On 15 November, the NIAC recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine be offered to persons aged 16-59 years with underlying conditions, all residents in Long Term Healthcare Facilities and persons aged 50-59 years. The Chief Medical Officer has endorsed the latest NIAC recommendations and written to the HSE requesting they be operationalised as soon as possible.
The NIAC has previously recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) be offered to those aged 60 years and older and healthcare workers. The booster dose should be given after an interval of six months (or at least five months) following the last dose of any authorised Covid-19 vaccine. I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.
The HSE has operational responsibility for the rollout of the Covid 19 booster vaccination programme. As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
