Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, is announcing a shorter interval between doses for the Vaxzevria® (AstraZeneca) vaccine. This follows updated recommendations from the National Immunisation Asvisory Committee (NIAC), which have been endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer.
The Minister met with the Chief Executive of the HSE and the Chair of the High-Level Task Force on the COVID-19 Vaccination programme regarding the latest NIAC advice.
Minister Donnelly said:”The reduction in the length of the interval between doses of this vaccine will benefit in excess of 400,000 people who are waiting on a second dose and who will now get the protection of being fully vaccinated earlier.”
NIAC made the following recommendations in their latest advice:
- NIAC has concluded that those of any age (without any previous COVID-19 infection), who have received their first dose of Vaxzevria® should receive their second dose 8-12 weeks later
- for those aged under 50 years of age who are immunocompetent and who had laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection in the nine months preceding their first dose of Vaxzevria®, a second dose of vaccine is not required, and they can be considered fully protected 15 days after their first dose of vaccine