![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2.57795615.jpg\")
Any long-term restrictions on the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Ireland would have a \u201cserious\u201d impact on the immunization program, the Health Minister has warned.<\/p>\nAny long-term restrictions on the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Ireland would have a \u201cserious\u201d impact on the immunization program, the Health Minister has warned.<\/p>\n
Stephen Donnelly said Johnson & Johnson\u2019s Janssen single-dose jab was a \u201cbig part\u201d of Ireland\u2019s vaccine strategy.<\/p>\n
Around 600,000 doses were due to arrive in Ireland by June out of a total order in excess of two million jabs.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson delayed distribution of its vaccine to Europe after US regulators recommended a pause in administering the jab to give time to investigate reports of a rare blood-clotting side effect.<\/p>\n
That development came a day after health authorities in Ireland limited use of the AstraZeneca jab to people aged over 60, again prompted by concerns around rare blood clots.<\/p>\n
Mr Donnelly said the two setbacks had presented health authorities with a \u201clogistical headache\u201d.<\/p>\n
The minister told RT\u00c9 One: \u201cThere\u2019s no question that if it follows through that there are restrictions (on Johnson & Johnson), there\u2019s no question that would require serious re-profiling of the program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if restrictions on the product would delay the vaccine program, and consequently the reopening of society, Mr Donnelly replied: \u201cThere\u2019s no question if we had to fully pull the Janssen or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, there\u2019s no question, you can\u2019t vaccinate as many people with less vaccines.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vaccination clinics using AstraZeneca jabs are to be cancelled for the remainder of the week in Ireland, with the exception of some clinics vaccinating people over 60.<\/p>\n
Mr Donnelly said he was working with officials on an updated rollout plan and said people who had AstraZeneca appointments cancelled would hear later in the week about a rescheduled timetable for getting different jabs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incumbent upon us to move very quickly, so later this week we will have a re-profiled program and we will be able to tell all of these groups of people when they can expect to be contacted,\u201d added the minister.<\/p>\n
The Government\u2019s goal of administering 180,000 jabs this week will now be missed.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday, T\u00e1naiste Leo Varadkar said officials will know in the coming days whether 80 per cent of the adult population will be able to receive their first vaccine by June as planned.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said the decision from the National Immunization Advisory Committee to limit use of AstraZeneca had been a \u201cdifficult\u201d one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are well over half a million people over the age of 60 yet to be vaccinated so we will make good use of it,\u201d he told Newstalk.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar, who is a qualified doctor, said that he would have no hesitation recommending AstraZeneca to people over the age of 60.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe risk of getting this (side-effect) is minuscule compared to getting Covid,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would take it myself, absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
A further 18 Covid-19 linked deaths were announced on Tuesday along with another 358 new cases of the virus.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday morning, there were 205 coronavirus patients in hospital, 48 of whom were in ICU.<\/p>\n
There had been 11 additional hospital admissions in the previous 24 hours.<\/p>\n