A Clare Government TD has expressed confidence that vaccine targets can be met by the end of June, despite government receiving advice to set an age limit to the Johnson & Johnson jab.
The Cabinet is expected to sign off on new recommendations to the vaccine rollout programme today, following advice from NIAC on both the Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca shots.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee has recommended the Johnson and Johnson vaccine be offered to people over the age of 50 and that where an alternative vaccine is not available for younger age groups, it can be used.
It’s also recommending the AstraZeneca vaccine be offered to people in their 50s, having been limited to the over 60 age cohort until now.
600,000 doses of the single jab Johnson and Johnson jab are to be delivered to Ireland by the end of June, with supplies already here in storage awaiting NPHET approval.
The cabinet met today to dicuss the recommendations given by NIAC and speaking on his way into the meeting, the Health Minister said it’s full steam ahead if agreement is reached.
Minister Stephen Donnelly says the vaccines will be rolled out as soon as possible if Cabinet signs off on the measures.
A Clare Government TD has expressed confidence that the target of vaccinating 80 percent of the population by the end of June can be achieved as a result of the latest recommendations.
Deputy Joe Carey is warning however that reaching this target still remains dependent on supply.
The Clarecastle TD believes the concept of signing contracts with other pharmaceutical companies ahead of the approval of vaccines by the European Medicines Agency could help speed up the process of bolstering supply.
