Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today announced the allocation strategy for Covid-19 vaccines, following sign-off from Cabinet.
The strategy prioritises those over the age of 65 living in long-term care facilities, frontline healthcare workers who are in direct patient contact and those aged 70 and over.
The Covid-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy is available to read in full at the following link – https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/
The Minister also announced that there should be no barrier to people accessing a vaccine, and therefore the vaccine programme will be available free of charge to everyone in Ireland.
The Covid-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy was based on a Department of Health and national immunisation advisory committee (NIAC) paper. It sets out a provisional priority list of groups for vaccination once a safe and effective vaccine(s) has received authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This paper was endorsed by the national public health emergency team (NPHET) on 3 December.
The Minister for Health said: “Recent news from vaccine developers are a beacon of hope after a very difficult year. Vaccination is a hugely effective intervention for saving lives and promoting good health. Of course, the safety and effectiveness of vaccines is our absolute priority and any Covid-19 vaccine administered in Ireland will have to be authorised by the European Medicines Agency. While we await news on whether these vaccines comply with all of the EMA’s requirements of quality, safety and efficacy, the Government has been working ahead on plans for the roll-out of vaccines.”
“A key part of the roll-out will be ensuring that those most vulnerable to COVID-19 receive vaccinations first. Given the country’s experience with Covid-19 to date and the risks that vulnerable people and those in frontline roles in the health and social care services continue to face, it is only right that they are prioritised in the allocation of vaccines. The government has followed the advice from our leading medical experts.”
The Department stated that, although Ireland has secured a large number of doses of candidate vaccines, the initial availability will be limited if authorised for use, therefore a prioritisation strategy had to be developed.
According to the Department: “The Covid-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy prioritises groups based on (1) ethical principles and (2) epidemiological considerations and takes account of the current distinctive characteristics of the Covid-19 disease, its modes of transmission, the groups and individuals most susceptible to infection and what is currently known about the candidate vaccines. The strategy will evolve and adapt with more detailed information on the vaccines and their effectiveness.”
The Minister advised that the continued adherence to public health measures is critical to keeping the disease at bay.
“While some may be tempted to let their guards down now that there are vaccines on the horizon, it is crucially important to continue to follow the public health guidance. Covid-19 is still a deadly disease. Through so much hard work and sacrifice, we now have the lowest 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in the EU. We are in a good position, and we want to keep it like that. Please remember that every single contact counts.”
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