CFI thanks all those who have contacted TD’s in recent days in relation to vaccine prioritisation.

There was a debate in the Dail on Thursday 21st January where a number of TD’s raised concerns related to very high and high risk groups, including those with cystic fibrosis. Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD stated during this debate

'I hear the Deputy loudly and clearly on all three issues, that is, the mental health nurses, GPs and people with cystic fibrosis. Indeed, many other people have many other conditions which also make them vulnerable. We are obviously using the NIAC prioritisation. As we have said, however, that is a living document and we must always be up to reviewing it based on new information, new science and new information about the vaccine and how it is progressing.’

Click here to view a transcript of this debate.

CFI welcomes the statement yesterday from Dr Siobhán O’Sullivan – Chief Bioethics Officer, the Department of Health and member of the National Public Health Emergency Team which includes the following;

The vaccine allocation strategy seeks to balance the requirement to produce the most good while ensuring the equitable treatment of people. The latter involves giving special consideration to those who are most vulnerable.

Those who have an increased risk of dying or developing severe disease have been prioritised to receive a COVID vaccine. Increasing age is the clearest risk factor associated with dying or becoming very ill if you contract the virus. This risk is amplified for older persons living in long term residential care as they have a higher risk of exposure to infection. In Ireland in the first wave of COVID-19, 56% of deaths occurred in this setting. This is likely compounded by the presence of underlying conditions which increase with advancing age.

Frontline healthcare workers have also been prioritised in this initial phase. This group is also at high risk of exposure to the virus. In the first wave, over 30% of cases of COVID-19 were in this group. If our healthcare workers contract the virus this will not only affect their own health but will also impact on their ability to provide essential care. Prioritising healthcare workers recognises the significant burdens they carry daily in protecting wider society and our healthcare system.

Some people with underlying health conditions will be vulnerable to developing severe infection and are at increased risk of dying compared to healthy individuals of the same age. It is also clear that socio-economic factors including occupation, as well as living or working in crowded conditions can increase susceptibility to COVID-19 and impact on outcomes following infection with the virus. From the perspective of fairness, it makes sense to afford these vulnerable groups early access to vaccination.

CFI will continue to monitor the roll out of the vaccination programme over coming weeks and we thank the Minister and the HSE for the consideration of the points raised by CFI and other patient groups. We look forward to seeing these concerns more fully reflected in the prioritisation strategy.

NEWSTALK Feature 

In case you missed it, there was an excellent feature in Newstalk’s 'Hard Shoulder' Programme on Friday 22nd January that focussed on the vaccination concerns of CFI