Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1678. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he has recent papers that have analysed data sets by a company (details supplied) that indicate that the initial Covid vaccine offered no better protection against Covid than not taking the Covid vaccine; if he has engaged with the company in any way to ascertain if this is true; and if he has sought refunds for the expenditure made by the Government on these initial Covid vaccines. [1315/24]
View answerIreland's COVID-19 vaccination programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.
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 the Department of Health based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
Following the recommendation for the use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops and disseminates the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland and advocates for best immunisation practices. The NIAC review data relating to vaccines on a rolling basis.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) COVID-19 vaccines licensed for use in the EU/EEA were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials and have met EMA’s scientific standards for safety, efficacy and quality. The vaccines have been shown during clinical trials to be highly effective in providing protection against symptomatic COVID-19 and severe disease.
The HPSC also conducted a COVID-19 vaccine impact study from December 2021 to March 2023 during the Omicron period. An adapted formula from an internationally recognised and peer-review methodology was used to estimate COVID-19 vaccine impact in Ireland.
The study concluded that during an Omicron period in Ireland, the COVID-19 vaccination programme prevented COVID-19 related illness including ICU admissions and deaths due to COVID-19. Vaccination therefore protected population health and capacity in the healthcare system. The benefits of vaccination are ongoing, emphasising the importance of vaccination.
