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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Booster doses for housebound elderly

Summary

Deputy Carey raised difficulties getting booster doses to housebound older people, including a 99-year-old constituent. The Taoiseach said GPs had done an excellent job for older people overall, ambulance teams had also helped, and he would follow up on the specific case.

I strongly support the Taoiseach's comments in the House encouraging people to take up the third dose or booster vaccine. Initially, when the vaccine programme was being rolled out, a number of issues arose in regard to getting the vaccine to housebound people. I am getting those same complaints now in terms of the third dose. The family of a 99-year-old person from east Clare has been in touch with me looking to get the third dose for that person. I am dealing directly with the HSE on this and I hope we will get there. I can pass the details on to the Taoiseach. The overall issue is that there is no established pathway for people who are housebound to get vaccinated. That needs to be dealt with now. Families of loved ones who want to get the vaccine should be encouraged to do so and shown how to get it.

Comment on this

In terms of the over-70s group, GPs have largely been responsible for the provision of the vaccines and they have done an excellent job.

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Not in the home.

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To be fair, they have done an excellent job.

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They are not doing it in the home.

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I did not say that. Will you calm it, Deputy? I am saying that, overall, they did a good job.

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We are running out of time.

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For the first, second and current dose, the ambulance service teams did a lot of work. We are in the middle of a very difficult situation in the acute services as well, so there have been challenges in that respect. If Deputy Carey gives me the details, I will follow it up.

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