Covid booster for people over 65 in nursing homes, all over 80

Residents aged 65 and over living in long-term care facilities and people aged 80 and over living in the community should receive a booster dose of a Covid-19 mRNA vaccine.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly today announced the update of Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination program.

The updates follow recommendations made by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NIAC) to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, who endorsed the recommendations.

The booster dose can be given after a minimum interval of six months after the end of the primary vaccination schedule.

In formulating their recommendations, NIAC members took into account the “emerging evidence relating to decreased immunity, the effectiveness of a booster dose vaccine against the Delta variant of Covid-19 to protect against serious illnesses, including hospitalizations, intensive care admissions and death ”.

The NIAC also reviewed all safety data regarding a booster dose.

“Global vaccine equity has also been taken into account and respect for the principles of harm minimization, equity and moral equality as described in the national vaccine allocation framework,” according to a ministry statement. of Health.

Minister Donnelly said: ‘Once again this week we have seen some of the necessary public health restrictions relaxed thanks to the tremendous efforts that the Irish people have made to continue to follow public health advice and, in particular in this which concerns our incredible levels of vaccine uptake.

“Vaccination remains our way out of this pandemic, and as with previous phases of our vaccination program, this program update ensures that we continue to prioritize our loved ones most at risk from Covid- 19. “

The announcement comes as 1,545 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland today.