Vaccination Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Ceisteanna (850)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

850. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the reason phlebotomists cannot be recruited as vaccinators; if he will amend Statutory Instrument No. 698 of 2020 to include this class of healthcare worker; the reason for the exclusion; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that phlebotomists are being recruited in the UK as vaccinators; if he will now include phlebotomists as a category eligible for recruitment to the mass vaccination drive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9753/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE are building and deploying its workforce in order to be prepared for the requirements associated with rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine programme.

GPs, Pharmacists, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and many healthcare professionals, will have a role to play in the vaccination programme.

The vaccine rollout is being conducted on a 7-day week basis and to date, more than 7,400 staff have received training to operate as vaccinators. To support the expanded immunisation programme the HSE launched a vaccinator recruitment campaign last week.

It is not intended that phlebotomists will be called upon to participate as vaccinators in the programme at this time.