Post Cabinet Statement - Vaccine Programme
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
As we progress through this pre-recovery phase of the pandemic, we are seeing a welcome reduction in COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths.
We have one million children back in the classroom and residential construction is underway.
The vaccine programme is a key enabler to the reopening of society and the economy. Even with the advices on AstraZeneca and the pausing of Janssen the vaccine programme is well underway.
Last week we passed the milestone of 1m doses administered, with over 19% of those over 16 having received at least one dose of the vaccine. The benefits of the programme are already being seen, with, for example, significant decreases in cases in healthcare workers and with people living in Nursing Homes.
The programme is agile and responsive to any EU or global changes and this supports rapid reaction to developments in relation to the vaccine. Over the past few days, we have had a number of developments:
The programme is currently recalibrating its approach in order to react to these developments.
Key upcoming milestones include the substantial completion of Dose 2 for residents and staff of Long-Term Residential Care Facilities, continued administration of Dose 2 for Front Line Healthcare workers, substantial completion of Dose 1 for the over 70s and those over 70 who are housebound.
The programme continues to maximise the deployment of vaccines within public health advice.
The following actions are being taken:
The immediate focus of the vaccine plan is on those at higher risk and those aged 60 and over and that roll out is continuing. The remainder of the population, in order of age will follow.
The government will continue to make every effort to ensure that the vaccine roll out is a successful one so that we can all look forward to the restrictions being lifted over the next while as we look forward to the Summer.