Certainty now needed on supplies to reduce AstraZeneca Gap
More information needed on how many will benefit.
While it is welcome that there will be some movement to reduce down to 8 weeks the gap between AstraZeneca doses, Labour Leader Alan Kelly said that the public need more certainty on when this will be implemented and what the status of supplies are.
Deputy Kelly said:
“It is welcome that the Minister has moved now to reduce the gap between doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and implement NIAC advice but this is contingent on supplies.
“What we need to know is how many will benefit from this next week based on expected supplies and vaccine planning? The Minister should make this information available to the public.
“As soon as possible we need to get as much certainty on the status of supplies over the coming weeks so this can actually happen.
“The public need more information on when this will actually be implemented as I and my colleagues like Brendan Howlin have been raising this for weeks with large number of people in touch, especially from the 60-69 aged cohort.
“A commitment to reduce the gap still leaves lots of worry for people as it’s not a definitive change.
“There had been significant public concern about the 12 week wait, and I’d been contacted by so many in the 60-69 age cohort worried about the emerging risk from the new delta variant.”