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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned the deputies, senators and MEPs of Fianna Fáil that we cannot lower our guard against Covid-19.
Mr. Martin said that easing of restrictions will be slow and measured and that the public health council will be the guiding principle.
Previously, the Taoiseach said that the B117 variant remains a concern and is reporting a conservative and cautious approach from the government on restrictions.
“There are 357 in the hospital at the moment, that’s even higher than at the peak of the second wave,” he told Dáil.
He warned that if the country “drops its guard too quickly” and this variant gets out of control again, it will spread very quickly.
He said that in the week before April 5, current restrictions would be reviewed and the government would take the advice of public health experts.
“Then we will advise on what we think is the best way forward for the next six weeks.”
The Taoiseach said Ireland is ready to receive an additional 46,500 vaccines before the end of March after the European Union announced an additional four million doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine.
The European Commission said additional doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine will be delivered this month to tackle coronavirus hot spots and facilitate free border movement.
They will be distributed pro rata.
In announcing the new doses this morning, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused AstraZeneca of not fulfilling its contract to supply doses to the EU.
When asked by RTÉ News when vaccine deliveries would start to hit their target, President von der Leyen said: “We have to differentiate between the different companies. BioNtech-Pfizer is fulfilling its contract.
“They have overcome all difficulties from the beginning and went a huge extra effort. They started a new plant in Marburg, so they are delivering.”
He added: “Moderna is also complying. We are in intensive talks with AstraZeneca which is not fulfilling the contract so far. So here AstraZeneca has to go the extra mile to fulfill, mainly in the first quarter, what has been contracted. And of course also in the coming months “.
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The Taoiseach told Dáil that it has spoken to Pfizer to tell the company that the government would provide support if it could make vaccines at its plants in Ireland.
However, he said the company told him it had sufficient capacity at its central factory in Belgium.
Martin said that “in fairness to Pfizer” it has always met its objectives.
He also said that he had spoken with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson about access to additional vaccines.
Martin said the prime minister said he “would love to help Ireland” but had no surplus vaccines.
He also said that he spoke to the German government, which said it would use all of its AstraZeneca products.
Tonight, Mr. Martin said that the Government in the past and in the future “will seek all avenues” to secure more Covid-19 vaccines.
He said he had raised the matter directly with the EU Commissioner, Thierry Breton, regarding the supply of vaccines and had also engaged with the vaccine-producing companies.
Referring to opposition criticism of the government’s actions, the Taoiseach cautioned that there are currently “many easy narratives about vaccines”, but “there is no magic vaccine tree.”
He praised today’s vaccination campaign, saying that there is “a real gain with every vaccine” and that the incidence in nursing homes has dropped to less than 1%.
He added that the government’s ongoing focus, over the next several weeks, is to continue to ensure the suppression of the virus, support the economy and business, as well as maximize the deployment of the vaccine.
The Taoiseach said there had been a “positive meeting” today with the hospitality sector regarding specific supports and other issues.
This morning I am pleased to have confirmation from the President of the Commission. @vonderleyen Ireland will secure an additional 46,500 Pfizer BioNTech vaccines by the end of March. When they get here, they will be managed quickly. Ongoing efforts to increase production.
– Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 10, 2021
On the other hand, President von der Leyen defended the EU policy of negotiating vaccine contracts as a single bloc.
“I would not like to know what it would be like in Europe today if there had not been a common European approach … We were able to recruit the six most successful companies that supplied vaccines out of over 100 others.
“What would it be like in Europe if everyone had gone on their own? We would have a few, four or five member states that would have access to vaccines – they are the big member states – and the rest would not have access to vaccines.
“Secondly, we would not be sure, because if there was a different vaccination rate, [where] some member states have vaccines, other member states do not have vaccines, the spread of the virus would even intensify and the risk of a mutant [strain] higher still.
“It is very important to do everything possible to stick together and increase all efforts.”
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President von der Leyen said that after a difficult start, more than 60 million doses had been administered so far.
He said death rates were declining due to vaccination of the elderly, but infection rates were not declining.
The four million additional doses had been negotiated with BioNtech-Pfizer to address new variants and Covid hot spots.
She added: “Consequently, due to the more infectious variants that we see, and we are primarily concerned about the new emerging hotspots where infection rates are even increasing despite the tough measures that have been taken, we see the reintroduction of border controls. which has a negative impact on cross-border workers or, for example, the flow of goods across borders.
“That’s why the commission negotiated an additional 4 million doses of BioNtech-Pfizer vaccines for March during the first quarter.
“This is in addition to the actual scheduled delivery and we chose Biotech Pfizer because this vaccine has been shown to be effective against all known mutants.”
In a statement, Pfizer said: “Our flexible and just-in-time distribution system has helped ensure that we can effectively support the response to the European pandemic, and we have been able to accelerate deliveries in the short term, based on our existing agreement.
“We have committed to delivering 500 million doses to the EU in 2021, and the quantities are increasing every month, including the tripling of doses in the second quarter compared to the first quarter. We know that the Covid-19 crisis is far away. to finish and we will continue to move at the speed of science to bring it under control. “
The latest figures show that, as of 7 March, 525,768 doses had been administered in Ireland to residents and staff of long-term residential care facilities, front-line healthcare workers and people over 70 years of age.
Currently, 95% of available vaccines are administered within seven days of arrival in the country.
The vaccine delay will not stop easing restrictions – Tánaiste
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that a delay in the delivery of the vaccine will not prevent the easing of restrictions on April 5.
“The delay in vaccine deliveries will not prevent us from easing restrictions on April 5, but we still only intend to do some very modest easing,” he said.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Mr. Varadkar said that the Government has been “open, frank and direct” with the people regarding the delivery of vaccine supplies and, despite the delay in deadlines, “we are making a Good progress”.
He described the delay in deliveries as very frustrating and “undermines competition”, but said the delivery schedule is beyond the government’s control and plans must be adjusted all the time.
He said the government has worked to secure additional supplies and is in direct contact with pharmaceutical companies with a significant presence in Ireland, which, he said, “are doing all they can for us.”
Mr Varadkar said that state aid is available if these companies want to produce vaccines in Ireland.
El Tánaiste said it remains true that construction work, the 5km rule and outdoor activities would be considered as part of easing restrictions next month.
He also said that “click and collect” could be considered for April, but the reopening of nonessential retail will not be considered at this time.
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty said the Health Minister needs to “act together” and do everything in his power to try to get more vaccines.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, she said that the supply of vaccines to GPs remains disrupted.
Doherty said that Sinn Féin is not suggesting that the government purchase vaccines not approved by the European Medicines Agency, but that Germany and other countries have bought additional supplies that other EU countries did not need.
He said the government needs to sit down with the British government and “get” the surplus vaccines that the UK will have.
Rep. Doherty said he accepts that there is no silver bullet to vaccine provision, but that more can and should be done, adding that “this is a race against time and we want to vaccinate people to keep them safe and prevent them from die “.
He also said that the situation in Northern Ireland is good news for border counties and it is important that those who cross the border in search of work and education see how the vaccine is implemented.
Speaking about the same program, a Cavan-based GP said his practice’s supply of vaccines has been cut by as much as 20% for his upcoming 80+ clinic this week.
Dr. Dara Hume said she is angry and frustrated on behalf of her patients, many of whom had arranged transportation or helped get to the clinic only to be told it wasn’t happening.
“These are not numbers, they are expensive and they are names and people that we have known for years,” he said.
Dr Hume said that many of her patients know much younger people in Northern Ireland who are being vaccinated and that it is frustrating for them “to see that their counterparts, their sisters and their children are being vaccinated” before they do.
Additional information Tony Connelly
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