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Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced the order in which different sectors of society will receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Details on what is called the “sequencing” or phases were announced today after approval by the Cabinet.
Under the plan, those 65 and older who reside in long-term care facilities will be the first sequence, and front-line health care workers who are in direct contact with patients will be the second. Those over 70 will follow, starting with those over 85 and progressing through five-year bands.
The minister has also announced that “there should be no barriers to people accessing a vaccine” and therefore the vaccine program will be available free of charge to everyone in Ireland.
The Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy was based on a document from the Department of Health and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (CANI) that establishes a provisional list of priority groups for vaccination once a safe and effective vaccine has received the authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). ). The EMA is expected to approve a vaccine later this month.
Donnelly said the vaccines were “a ray of hope.”
“The recent news from vaccine developers is a ray of hope after a very difficult year.
“Of course, the safety and efficacy of vaccines is our top priority and any Covid-19 vaccine administered in Ireland will need to be licensed by the European Medicines Agency.
“While we await news on whether these vaccines meet all EMA requirements for quality, safety and efficacy, the Government has been working early on plans for the launch of vaccines.”
“A key part of the rollout will be ensuring that those most vulnerable to Covid-19 receive vaccines first.
As a front-line physician, I have seen the benefit of vaccines in our population writes @profmaryhorgan in today @irishexaminer Vaccine development is a key component in controlling a pandemic along with human behavior, testing, tracking, and quarantine https://t.co/IyYfx96HOZ pic.twitter.com/DxUIHKJAA5
– Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (@RCPI_news) December 8, 2020
“Given the country’s experience with Covid-19 to date and the risks that vulnerable people and those in front-line positions in health and social care services continue to face, it is only fair that they be prioritized in the allocation vaccines. The government has followed the advice of our leading medical experts. ”
Although Ireland has secured sufficient doses of potential vaccines for every person in the country, initial availability will be limited, meaning that priority will be given to the most vulnerable.
The strategy will evolve and be adapted with more detailed information on vaccines and their effectiveness, with sources saying that certain vaccines could be more effective in nursing homes, for example.
“According to the plan, healthy young people ages 18 to 64 who are not health workers or essential workers will be among the last to receive a vaccine, before children and adolescents.”
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