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Tonight the green light has been given to restart the launch of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination program.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) issued an update regarding the vaccine.
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Medical Director, said: “I have recommended that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine program be resumed.”
“The HSE will now work to restart the administration of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine,” he added.
He said: “To date, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) of Ireland has received no reports of serious clotting events associated with low platelet levels. In Ireland, more than 117,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have been administered ”.
Yesterday, the European Medicines Agency found that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is “safe” for use following an investigation of cases of blood clots among people who received the injection.
It paved the way for the resumption of its implementation here, after the finding was evaluated by vaccination experts and the Department of Health.
Last Sunday morning it was announced that the launch of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 will be temporarily suspended here.
Professor Karina Butler, chair of the National Immunization Advisory Committee, said: “Vaccine safety is paramount. The public should be reassured by rapid and thorough investigations of a very small number of serious but very rare adverse events. Because Covid-19 can be so serious and widespread, the EMA found that the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the risks of these very rare events.
“Clotting problems are commonly seen in people with severe Covid-19 disease. They can also occur by chance in the general population. The EMA found no evidence that the vaccine caused these reported events and continues to investigate a possible association.
“These events have occurred predominantly in women under 55 years of age. However, as this may reflect the targeted vaccination of healthcare workers to date, the NIAC recommends that appropriate guidelines be made available to all vaccine recipients and healthcare providers.
“The public should be reassured that more than 20 million doses of this vaccine have been administered in the EEA and the UK, providing protection to those who have received it. We see that the rate of infections and hospitalizations begins to decrease among those vaccinated. The best vaccine anyone can get is the one they can get the earliest, ”said Professor Butler.
The NIAC includes representatives from the Department of Health, HSE, the National Office for Immunization, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), the Health Protection Surveillance Center (HPSC), the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL UCD). ), representatives from the faculties and institutes of the Royal Irish College of Physicians, RCSI, the Infectious Diseases Society, the Nursing and Midwifery Board and two representatives from the public.
These experts meet to consider new evidence about vaccines and provide advice to the Medical Director and the Department of Health. The Department and the Minister of Health make policy decisions on vaccines that are implemented by the HSE.
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