Further Covid-19 Boosters To Be Offered To Over 65s And Immunocompromised

The Health Minister says the government are working towards the recommendation.

Over 65's and the immunocompromised are to be offered another covid-19 vaccine. 

NIAC has issued new advice that people in those cohorts should receive a second booster jab.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the HSE will now work on the rollout of the latest dose for those who need it:

“I welcome today’s update to Ireland’s vaccination programme. COVID-19 vaccines have achieved extraordinary success in preventing severe disease, hospitalisation and death. These vaccines continue to have a very good safety profile with hundreds of millions of doses administrated globally.

“Those who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated continue to be disproportionality affected and account for approximately a third of hospitalisations for COVID-19. As such, I urge anyone for whom an additional dose of vaccine has been recommended, or anyone yet to receive their primary course or booster vaccine do so as soon as possible.

“I have asked the NIAC to continue to actively examine the evidence regarding the likely benefit of a second booster to other groups, vaccine choice and interval in order to make further recommendations in this regard.”

NIAC have also pointed out the importance of building in flexibility and responsiveness to the COVID-19 vaccination programme to allow for a rapid and dynamic response to changes in viral transmission and disease severity.

The Department of Health and the HSE will now work to operationalise these updates.

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