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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that those over 70 will not be given the “revolutionary” AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.
Now serious questions have been raised about the vaccination schedule, which will have to be changed on the advice of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (CANI) that AstraZeneca might be less effective in older people.
The committee has said that when “feasible and timely,” mRNA vaccines (such as the Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines) should be used for those over 70 years of age.
Mr. Martin admitted that moving away from the use of AstraZeneca, which GPs can easily store and administer, will pose challenges.
“That will mean a change in terms of the operation of the plan and it will be a significant logistical challenge for the Executive of the Health Service, and they are currently working on the implications of this,” Martin said.
“All three vaccines are safe and effective, but given the most effective data around mRNA vaccines, namely Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, the CMO recommends that it would be preferable to use them when practical and appropriate for those over 70 years.
“Given that those over 70 are the most vulnerable to death and illness if they contract Covid, the recommendation is that we apply those vaccines – Moderna and Pfizer – to those over 70 and that’s what will happen.”
The Taoiseach promised that vaccination of those over 70 will still begin on February 15, but only the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be used.
Mr. Martin suggested that vaccination of other groups can now be advanced as a result of the recommendation.
“It means for other groups and cohorts four, five, six and seven that they will be able to present themselves in terms of AstraZeneca,” he told TodayFM’s The Last Word program.
A statement from the Department of Health on Wednesday evening confirmed that CANI recommended that mRNA vaccines be used for those over 70 years of age in Ireland “when possible and timely”.
The mRNA vaccines approved for Ireland are the Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
The NIAC also recommended that “in accordance with approvals granted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), all currently licensed Covid-19 vaccines can be used in adults of all ages, including those aged 70 and over.”
CANI stated that given the high rates of community transmission, “the best vaccine to administer to the elderly population is the one that can be administered sooner.
“Whenever possible and timely, people age 70 and older should receive mRNA vaccines, as these vaccines have a higher overall efficacy, making them preferable for use in those most at risk of adverse outcomes.”
The Health Department said that “several other EU countries have made similar decisions regarding the provision of mRNA vaccines to older people.”
Dr. Tony Holohan, Medical Director, stated that the main goal of the vaccine program was “to prevent morbidity and mortality.”
He said: “National and international data indicate that people aged 70 and over have a significantly higher risk of hospitalization and mortality.
“Due to the proven efficacy of mRNA vaccines in older people and in recognition of their particular vulnerability in terms of their increased risk of death and serious illness if they contract Covid-19, it has been recommended that mRNA vaccines be administered to everyone those over 70 years of age in order to provide the highest level of protection available to this population. “
The Department’s statement added: “Expert advice to the [Health] Minister [Stephen Donnelly] acknowledged that there is currently limited data on the AstraZeneca vaccine in relation to older age groups.
“Those over 70 are a key priority group for protection due to their increased risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death from Covid-19.”
Donnelly said: “It has been a remarkable achievement of science to have developed, rigorously tested, obtained regulatory approval and distributed three safe and effective vaccines in just over a year since SARS-COV-2 was first identified.
“The addition of a third Covid-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca will significantly improve the implementation of our vaccination program and, together with those from Pfizer and Moderna, will play a very important role in protecting our population from COVID-19 and helping us to overcome the challenges we have faced in the last year.
“The implementation of community vaccinations for our 70+ will begin as planned this month starting with those 85 and older.”
The Department statement confirmed that supplies from AstraZeneca will begin arriving in Ireland from next week and deliveries from Pfizer and Moderna will continue as scheduled.
Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane described the decision as a “major setback” in the vaccine program.
“This will have consequences for the objectives and the speed and efficiency of the deployment.
“We don’t know how long it will take to vaccinate those over 70 without the AstraZeneca vaccine, and now it doesn’t make sense what the strategy or the timelines are.”
Mr Cullinane asked Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to set clear revised goals and provide certainty on how it will be implemented in practice through GPs.
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