“We need clarity on whether the eight week gap between doses will now be implemented” – Nash
It was only at the end of last year that Astra Zeneca, the first Vaccine against Coronavirus, was launched, first in the UK and, after much squabbling in many other countries.
Some say it was rushed out by Boris Johnson and the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock to deflect attention away from the disastrous decisions they had made in the early days of the pandemic.
Be that as it may, there has been considerable public confusion over the efficacy of the vaccine ever since and the Irish Government has muddied the waters considerably on this side of the Irish Sea with its poor communications and ever-changing advice on the topic.
Responding to the new advice from NIAC (The National Immunisation Advisory Committee) allowing for the gap between AstraZeneca vaccine doses to be reduced to eight weeks, Labour TD Ged Nash said what the people of Louth & East Meath need to know if it will be implemented.
Nash has backed the call from Labour Leader Alan Kelly for the Minister for Health to provide clarity, especially for those in the 60-69 age cohort.
“This is a welcome development from NIAC” he said, “but we need clarity on whether the shorter eight week gap between doses will now be implemented.”
“The evidence from a Public Health England study is clear, the first dose of AstraZeneca only provides 33% protection against the new delta variant that first appeared in India. This has caused so much concern with people in the 60-69 aged cohort and their families, and the increasing incidence of the new variant that is causing much concern.
“Labour leader Alan Kelly has raised this with the government on a number of occasions asking them to get the experts in NIAC to look at it, as there is significant public concern about the 3 month wait, and I have have been inundated with queries from so many in the 60-69 age cohort worried about the emerging risk from the new delta variant. I also raised this in the Dáil with Minister Donnelly.
“They are worried and their families are worried. The advice from the experts is now clear.
“These people waiting for their second dose are likely to be among the most vulnerable and will have to wait the longest to be fully vaccinated and are at real risk from new variants.
“With this clear recommendation from NPHET and NIAC we need clarity from the Minister for Health if he will act to implement this new advice.”
