Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
552. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if children with complex medical needs are included in the high-risk category for Covid-19 vaccination; and the person or body that determines high risk categories. [3025/22]
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 the 15th November, the NIAC recommended a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination for persons aged 16-59 years with certain underlying conditions for whom there is an increased risk of hospitalisation following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
You can view the aforementioned NIAC reccomendation below:
rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NIAC_Recommendations-on-booster-doses-of-COVID-19-vaccine-for-healthcare-workers16-59-years-with-underlying-conditions-and-all-those-50-59-years.pdf.pdf
The NIAC develops guidance for the use of COVID-19 vaccines and these are published in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland. The underlying conditions associated with very high or high risk of severe COVID-19 are set out in Chapter 5a of the Immunisation Guidelines.
You can view the Immunisation Guidelines below:
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf
