Covid vaccine timing and passports
Deputy Kelly asked when Ireland would begin vaccinating and whether vaccine certificates or passports would be state-run or private. The Tánaiste said first EU vaccinations were expected on 27 to 29 December and that Ireland expected to vaccinate before year end, but the exact date and format were not yet fixed.
Fantastically, the President of the European Commission, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, announced an hour or so ago that EU citizens will be vaccinated from 27, 28 and 29 December. Will the Tánaiste give us all a bit of Christmas cheer and tell us on what date we will start the vaccination programme here in Ireland? Will it be 27, 28 or 29 December? On top of that, has the Government decided what it will do in relation to vaccine certificates or vaccine passports? Will this be run by the State or by private organisations whereby they want to have certificates? There are huge moral, ethical and legal issues here as to whether this should be allowed. Has the Government taken a position for event management and large occasions whether certificates will be considered later on this year?
Comment on this
I can confirm that it is anticipated now that the European Medicines Agency will meet on Monday and will approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and that will allow the first people in EU countries to receive the vaccine on 27, 28 and 29 December.
Comment on this
I cannot say exactly which date will be the case in Ireland but we expect that the first people in Ireland will be vaccinated before the new year. I cannot give the Deputy an exact date. They will be given evidence of the fact that they have had the vaccine but at present I cannot tell the House exactly what the format will be.