The Division of Well being says it’s “contemplating the problems” for individuals who can’t obtain a Covid-19 vaccine for medical causes.
Public well being recommendation stays that those that should not totally vaccinated ought to keep away from congregated indoor settings for their very own and others’ security, a spokeswoman stated.
The division and the Well being Service Govt each say they have no idea how many individuals are unable to obtain a Covid-19 vaccine due to medical points.
In current months, the Nationwide Public Well being Emergency Group (Nphet) has been contemplating what motion, if any, to take with regard to advising people who find themselves unable to entry a Covid-19 go as a result of they aren’t vaccinated for medical causes.
This implies they’re unable to enter hospitality venues, cinemas, gyms and different areas for which the go is required.
Attainable ‘answer’
In Northern Eire, anybody who can’t obtain a Covid-19 vaccination on medical grounds can apply for an exemption certificates.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar stated in October that the Authorities was engaged on a “answer”, probably primarily based on testing, for this group.
He acknowledged there was “a small group of people that can’t get the vaccine for a specific motive”, comparable to individuals who could have had an hostile response to their first dose of the vaccine or who’ve been suggested to not get their second dose.
Within the UK, grounds for medical exemption embrace end-of-life care, studying disabilities and autism, extreme allergic reactions and those that had a response to a primary dose of vaccine.
In current months, quite a lot of individuals who say they aren’t vaccinated for medical causes have contacted The Irish Instances over their incapacity to entry venues.
A member of the Nationwide Covid-19 GP Liaison Committee, Dr Ray Walley, has known as on the general public to not contact GP surgical procedures in an effort to hurry up entry to PCR testing in an interview on RTÉ radio’s Information at One. Dr Walley stated that most individuals who had the Omicron variant have been experiencing delicate signs. The main focus shouldn’t be on testing however on the necessity to isolate.