Well being Minister Stephen Donnelly tells TDs State is engaged on compensation scheme
A spokesman for the company, which handles claims in opposition to the well being service, mentioned a breakdown of the figures to indicate the producer of the vaccines cited within the circumstances was not out there presently.
“Usually, the problem of vaccine producer identification turns into clarified” as authorized motion develops, he mentioned.
“Additionally, in some circumstances, an individual could have acquired two totally different Covid vaccine merchandise,” the spokesman mentioned.
Covid-19 vaccines had been rolled out in Eire from the tip of 2020 as a part of the pandemic response and quite a lot of totally different producers had been used.
Eire, together with different EU states, indemnified Covid-19 vaccine producers as a part of superior buy agreements.
As much as March 31, the Irish medicines watchdog, the Well being Merchandise Regulatory Authority (HPRA), acquired 21,168 reviews describing suspected side-effects in affiliation with Covid-19 vaccines, of which 2,848 had been made in 2022, 400 in 2023 and 33 this 12 months.
“Conclusions on the security of a vaccine can’t be drawn based mostly on info from suspected side-effect reviews alone,” the HPRA mentioned.
“The HPRA receives reviews based mostly on a suspicion {that a} aspect impact could also be related to vaccination. This doesn’t imply that the vaccine brought about the side-effect.”
The EU’s European Medicines Company, in its most up-to-date replace, mentioned Covid-19 vaccines authorised to be used within the EU and European Financial Space (EEA) had been protected and efficient. Round one billion vaccine doses have been administered within the EU and EEA.
It mentioned that, as with all medicines, Covid-19 vaccines had side-effects, however “these are far outweighed by the advantages when it comes to safety in opposition to extreme illness and demise”.
The commonest suspected side-effects reported for these vaccines had been headache, fever, fatigue and muscle ache.
It mentioned sure side-effects reported with Covid vaccines had drawn public consideration and had been being monitored.
A few of these included anaphylaxis – a life-threatening allergic response – and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which a uncommon however critical neurological illness. Additionally reported are types of coronary heart irritation akin to myocarditis and pericarditis.
Well being Minister Stephen Donnelly has been requested within the Dáil in regards to the institution of a vaccine injury scheme by the State.
“Work is ongoing to design a proposed mannequin for a vaccine injury scheme and my officers are presently working by associated coverage issues,” the minister mentioned.
Vaccines can solely be accepted and used in the event that they complied with all the necessities of high quality, security and efficacy set out in EU pharmaceutical legislation, he mentioned.
A report on medical negligence claims in 2020, produced by an professional group chaired by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, really useful the introduction of an ex-gratia scheme for individuals who suffered harm arising from vaccination programmes “as a matter of urgency”.