Search icon

News

04th Jun 2021

Gap between AstraZeneca doses to be reduced from 12 to eight weeks

Stephen Porzio

It is said the reduction will benefit over 400,000 people waiting on a second dose of AstraZeneca.

The gap between people being administered doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is to be reduced from 12 to eight weeks, the government has confirmed.

On Friday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced the move, which follows updated recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

In a statement, 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.

“This will be phased in – the coming fortnight will see those who are due their vaccine as part of a 12-week schedule, receive their second dose of vaccine.

“We will then implement a graduated reduction so the interval will reduce to 11, 10, 9 and then 8 weeks.”

The Government has said further detailed planning regarding the change to the rollout will take place over the weekend.

It also said the exact timing regarding this change will depend on supplies of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

Donnelly added: “Right now we only have confirmed volumes for the next two weeks. I’ve spoken with the company, while there has also been contact with them from the Taoiseach and the taskforce in recent days to emphasise the urgency and importance of contracted supplies arriving as agreed.”

In NIAC’s recommendations, it concluded that those of any age without any previous Covid-19 infection who have received their first dose of AstraZeneca should receive their second dose eight to 12 weeks later.

It also recommended that a second dose of vaccine is not required for those under-50 who are immunocompetent and who had a laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 infection in the nine months preceding their first dose of AstraZeneca. People in this bracket can be considered fully protected 15 days after their first dose of vaccine.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Conor Sketches | Tiger Woods loves Ger Loughnane and cosplaying as Charles LeClerc