Call for detailed rollout plan for Covid-19 vaccine

The Labour Party is pressing the Government for publication of a detailed rollout plan for Covid-19 vaccines.

Labour Party leader and Health Spokesperson Alan Kelly is seeking a briefing from the Government for political party leaders in advance of any announcement on Thursday this week on the move from Level 5.

Deputy Kelly has also urged that the tracing system must be adequately resourced to be able to cope with any increase in cases in the run up to Christmas. “Later this week the Government will make a significant announcement on how the country will exit Level 5. In advance of that, I am calling on the Government to provide a full briefing to party leaders, and as I have said over recent weeks, we need to see a detailed rollout plan for any Covid-19 vaccines that are approved over the coming weeks for emergency use,” he said.

“We have seen a number of private companies set up testing sites at various locations across the country with further sites planned to open within weeks. While this expansion of testing is welcome, the tracing system needs to be beefed to up to ensure it can cope with additional demand over the festive season.

He elaborated: “Private testing companies do not carry out contact tracing and our tracing system must be able to cope with the additional demand.” There are thousands of competent people who can be brought in to carry out contact tracing if necessary, he said, citing retired public servants, people who have been made unemployed and people who could have been seconded from different organisations. “The Minister needs to ensure that everything that can be done is being done.”

“The public need to have faith in the efficacy of our tracing system and it is absolutely vital that it is properly resourced in order to allow each and every one of us to have as enjoyable a Christmas as possible,” he added.