{"id":22780,"date":"2021-08-15T14:57:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T18:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22780"},"modified":"2021-08-16T11:00:43","modified_gmt":"2021-08-16T15:00:43","slug":"ireland-to-focus-on-pfizer-and-moderna-jabs-going-forward-says-hse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22780","title":{"rendered":"Ireland To Focus On Pfizer And Moderna Jabs Going Forward Says HSE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Coronavirus vaccine (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ireland is set to stop ordering further deliveries of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and place more reliance on mRNA jabs, the head of the HSE has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul Reid said Ireland\u2019s program would rely mainly on Pfizer and Moderna messenger RNA vaccines, going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said Ireland had established a strong supply of mRNA jabs and noted that the recent deal with Romania would see 700,000 more mRNA vaccines arrive in the country in the next two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson\u2019s Janssen jabs are viral vector vaccines that use a harmless virus to teach the human body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response to Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The messenger RNA vaccines use tiny fragments of the virus\u2019s genetic code to teach the body how to make a protein that will trigger an immune response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Reid said Ireland would be using mostly mRNA jabs in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the likely trajectory, the likely trajectory at EU level,\u201d he told Newstalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the EU level, the steering board has recommended each country make a decision to suspend the further delivery of Johnson & Johnson or indeed AstraZeneca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s the approach that we will likely be taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are on the mRNA program now very strongly, it\u2019s widely available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve walk-in centers available for it, it\u2019s available from our GPs, it\u2019s available through pharmacies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have very good delivery coming now with the Romanian deal that the Taoiseach initiated with the Romanian president, which will see over 700,000 delivered over the next two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo that gives us a really strong supply line to complete the 12 to 15-year-olds, but also reach some of those more vulnerable groups as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Reid was asked whether Ireland should put plans for booster jabs on hold until more vaccines were shared with developing countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HSE boss said it would be a policy decision for Government but he said there should be enough supply to run a booster program at the same time as sharing jabs with other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have to be really cognizant that this is a global pandemic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd we all have to play our part in that, but I do believe it\u2019s possible when you look at the level of vaccines that the EU has procured, that Ireland has procured, that we can carry out a booster campaign along with supporting developing countries as well. But I do believe we should.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>