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Vaccination Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Ceisteanna (607)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

607. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the status on the provision and the management of 'flu vaccines; the number of vaccines available for the forthcoming winter and the way in which they will be distributed; if priority will be given to front-line workers, carers and others most exposed to Covid-19; the plans in place to assist general practitioners in the management of the 'flu season including financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31218/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government is expanding the provision of vaccination without charge to all of those in the at-risk groups, including healthcare workers, and to all children aged from 2 to 12 years.  Vaccines will be administered via GPs and pharmacists, as in previous years.

The HSE has placed orders for 1.35 million doses of the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV) for the forthcoming winter. This vaccine will be made available to all persons in an at-risk group from 6 months up, other than children aged from 2 to 12 years old inclusive. The HSE has also ordered 600,000 doses of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV), which is delivered via nasal drops rather than by injection and will be made available to all children aged from 2 to 12 years old inclusive.   Children outside this age group in an at-risk category will also be eligible for vaccination without charges. 

Following a delay in the delivery of the first batch of vaccines, the first deliveries of the QIV influenza vaccines to all sites (GPs, pharmacists, nursing homes etc.) started on 17th September.

By the end of the second cycle of deliveries, in the week ending 9 October, approximately 800,000 doses of influenza vaccine were delivered to over 3,000 sites across the country. This represents an increase of 25% in quantities of vaccine delivered when compared with 2019. To date all sites have received 75% of the quantity used last season, and the allowance for the third delivery  which began from 15th October will increase this to 90%. Further stocks will be available for the fourth round of deliveries.

The HSE is satisfied that sufficient vaccine has been ordered to vaccinate all those in the HSE defined at-risk groups and all shipments will have arrived into Ireland before the end of October. The current distribution process to GP, pharmacists, hospitals and nursing homes will ensure an equitable distribution of the vaccine to all target groups for vaccination around the country. 

 Deliveries of the children’s flu vaccine started on the 28th of September, and all of the total order of 600,000 doses is expected by mid-October, as planned.

Given the importance of significantly increasing the level of uptake of the vaccine for the coming winter, resources will be provided to GPs and pharmacists not only to deliver the vaccination to the expanded groups, but to actively seek relevant patients and deliver vaccinations in a programmatic way, such as through dedicated flu vaccination clinics.

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