Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1430. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the expiry dates of the 500,000 doses of a vaccine (details supplied) that were donated to Nigeria by Ireland through COVAX and which arrived in Nigeria on 29 November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63216/21]
View answerUniversal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is a priority for Ireland and the EU. Ireland's first vaccine donation delivery through the COVAX donation facility took place in November with the delivery of almost 500,000 Janssen COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria.
It has recently been requested that, from 1 January 2022, donations to COVAX meet certain minimum standards including the recommendation for a minimum of 10 weeks shelf life when donated vaccines doses arrive in-country.
Officials in my Department engage extensively with relevant stakeholders to ensure donated vaccines distributed through COVAX have adequate shelf life to meet recipient country requirements.
