Vaccination for five to 11-year-olds
Deputy Kelly welcomed the vaccine recommendation for five to 11-year-olds but sought clarity on rollout and messaging. The Taoiseach said NIAC advice was to vaccinate vulnerable children and that the HSE would implement a plan, which would be taken forward quickly.
The welcome announcement of the recommendation of vaccines for five to 11-year-olds is something I am strongly in favour of. I seek clarity for the public because we need it. Will this be done through mass vaccination centres or GPs? The vaccine is recommended for those with underlying illnesses or those living with a child with complex needs or with somebody older who is immunocompromised. I understand that but I have a concern about how we kick this off and the language used. Already a discourse is emanating that this is really just for those three categories. I am 100% in favour of this and very pro-vaccine. I urge the Taoiseach today to clarify that while these three cohorts are being prioritised, we are promoting this vaccine for all children. I believe from the discourse I am hearing that there will be challenges on this, more so than in the rest of the vaccine roll-out. I urge the Taoiseach to start an information campaign immediately to deal with this issue from today.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for his comment. His point is valid. The advice from the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, is that it strongly recommends that children aged five to 11 years with an underlying condition, living with a younger child with complex medical needs or living with an immunocompromised adult should receive the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech. This should be offered in parallel with booster doses for those of all ages with underlying conditions.
Its idea is that that should not be delayed unduly. NIAC has also recommended that vaccination should be offered to all other children aged five to 11 years in parallel with the offer of booster doses to those aged under 40 years. The Covid-19 vaccine that has been recommended is the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11 years, and it goes through the doses recommended as opposed to the dose for adults. It is a two-dose schedule three weeks apart.
We now need to give time to the Department of Health and the HSE to comprehensively deal with this. They will announce the comprehensive plan, along with an information campaign.
Comment on this
How that is kicked off is important.