There are people aged between 60 and 69 who have received an initial dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and they are very concerned that they remain exposed and not fully vaccinated, especially as they have seen the Delta variant ravaging the UK. These people have been very careful during the various lockdowns but are very concerned they could be exposed. They are asking for this concern to be recognised so they could be prioritised to be fully vaccinated.

Changing the interval between doses would be helpful but it still means many people will not be fully vaccinated until late in July. It is a real worry, especially when we consider many of these are vulnerable older people. They are asking if the mixing of vaccines, including the likes of the Pfizer vaccine, could be considered so they could be fully vaccinated sooner.

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important question. I urge everybody called for their second vaccine dose to take that dose. It is the best protection we can give to one another and it is extremely important that this happens. The HSE has brought forward the interval for the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine so by mid-July, all that age cohort should have their second dose of AstraZeneca. That is a significant advance on what was originally planned. It will give up to 92% protection against the Delta variant, which is important.

The national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, has not recommended the mixing of vaccines and the committee has said it is important that people take the vaccine available to them as soon as that is offered. Once the AstraZeneca programme is concluded, we will be down to the two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.