A junior minister says he will get clarification as to whether carers will be included in the first groups to get the COVID vaccine.
The government has published its plan for how 14.6 million doses will be administered.
The three phases will begin with those who are vulnerable and frontline healthcare workers with plans for mass vaccination centres.
Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Frank Feighan, says the vaccine isn't a silver bullet and is urging people to continue to follow the public health guidelines.
He says the will seek clarity in relation to carers:
UPDATE: Minister Feighan's office says he's been in contact with the relevant officials in the Department of Health who have provided further clarifications regarding vaccine allocation. The department says this is an initial allocation strategy, it'll be capable of adaptation based on further expert advice and in accordance with the data and status of evidence that emerges over time. The department says scientists and clinicians will continue to play a key role in vaccine prioritisation.
It says the vaccine allocation framework was developed to consider how to prioritise different groups. It is based on ethical principles and epidemiological considerations, and takes account of the current and evolving understanding of distinctive characteristics of COVID-19, its modes of transmissions, the groups and individuals most susceptible to infection, and the characteristics of the candidate vaccine.
Further information on the Strategy can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/
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