Micheál Martin has said younger people may get their jabs quicker in the battle against the new Delta variant.
He said this morning that the imminent dominance of Delta means: “the balance of risk has changed” as he indicated that this could see a change in the vaccine rollout plan with an acceleration of jabs for younger people.
This will provide great hope for people in their 20s and 30s that they may get vaccinated and back to normal life quicker than expected.
The latest estimates from the HSE is that many in these age cohorts would not see jabs until at least September.
However, the Taoiseach gave renewed hope of a quicker timeline when he revealed in Brussels this morning (FRI) that discussions are at an advanced stage with the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, and NIAC (National Immunisation Advisory Council) on this.
It is hoped that our health experts will give the nod to provide the AstraZeneca vaccine to younger people soon.
We are due bumper deliveries of AstraZeneca in the coming weeks and months - up to half a million doses - and the HSE is keen that none of them are wasted.
This increases the hope that they may be given to younger people instead of being dumped.
The current advice is that they are not given to anyone under the age of 50.
The Taoiseach told reporters in Brussels: “I know that the Chief Medical Officer, I spoke to him last week, and he indicated that he would be engaging with NIAC on the application and administration of vaccines in terms of age restrictions, in the context of AstraZeneca and Janssen.
“And that would really broaden the portfolio of vaccines for July and August and I think the balance of risk has changed, therefore, that’s something that will be considered by the immunisation advisors to Government, in terms of how we can continue to protect from the Delta variant.”
