Vaccination Programme

Tuesday, 15 February 2022

Questions (826)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

826. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons under 40 years of age who have not yet been boosted due to testing positive for Covid-19 in the previous 90 days, are unable to access services in some European Union states as they are unable to obtain a digital Covid certificate of recovery before travel due to current PCR testing rules in Ireland; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that a test certificate does not permit access to services in some states; his views on same; the steps he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8121/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation creates a framework for the issuing, authentication, and validity of certificates. The scope and parameters for issuing the certificates is laid out in Regulation (EU) 2021/953.

The 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.

The NIAC has 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 16 years and older with the rollout now underway. The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines and will make further recommendations if required.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a travel document or a requirement for travel, but rather a record of a medical event which can make freedom of movement with the European Union easier. Any persons who wishes to travel to another EU country or access services aboard should familiarise themselves with the requirements of that country.