Poll: Jabs should be given by age
Majority back prioritising older people... as Donnelly causes confusion by saying under-30s may go up list
SIX in 10 people believe the Government made the right decision to change the vaccine rollout list from prioritising gardaí and teachers to an age-based system, according to an Ireland Thinks-Irish Mail on Sunday poll.
The poll finding comes as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly came under fire last night after he indicated under-30s may now get vaccinated early to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
But the Government appeared to row back on comments Mr Donnelly purportedly made to the Irish Times, with a spokesperson saying last night there has been no change to the official policy on the vaccine priority list to focus on people aged 18 to 30.
One Cabinet minister described Mr Donnelly’s intervention as ‘a solo run that has infuriated everyone’, adding: ‘There is big trouble over it.’
The Department of Health earlier confirmed Minister Donnelly asked for an assessment of the possibility of younger age groups being vaccinated earlier than others.
The department moved to dampen a deepening row last night, anxiously insisting there was no immediate intention to change the current age-based process.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: ‘Issues like this are constantly being reviewed to ensure the vaccination programme is as effective as possible, just like with dose intervals, distribution channels and so forth.
‘Any change would require a Government decision and no such memo is currently being prepared. Specifically, regarding sequencing by age, NIAC [National Immunisation Advisory Committee] stated on 29th March that evidence on transmission is limited.
‘Reduced transmission would be the primary rationale for moving to those in their late teens and early 20s.’
The Department of the Taoiseach added: ‘There is no change to the official
Government policy on the vaccine priority list to focus on people aged 18 to 30.’
Cabinet ministers reacted angrily to Mr Donnelly’s declaration last night. One minister said: ‘Every time there is the danger of a fair wind with the public Donnelly says something and there is chaos again.’
Another minister said: ‘There is fury here. All we need to get the public on board is a plan and to stick to that plan. Even that is too much.’
This view was echoed by Labour leader Alan Kelly, who said: ‘Minister Donnelly has once again caused utter confusion overnight. His Government colleagues and the HSE must be very concerned about his comments and continued management of the vaccine.
‘He needs to stick to the plan on vaccine rollout otherwise he’s undermining his own Government’s arguments for the age-based vaccine rollout in the first place.
‘It’s deeply unsettling to everyone finding out through the media that plans are changing. The Government seems to forget that these are lifesaving, life-changing vaccines for us all.
‘Any change to the rollout should benefit our frontline workers, our carers, our teachers, our gardaí, the people who are keeping this country going in communities throughout the country.
‘Government needs to agree to a plan and stick to it and the Taoiseach needs to talk to his minister.’ Minister Donnelly’s intervention also appears to go against
‘He needs to stick to the plan’
the grain of public opinion, with 61% of those surveyed in our poll saying they support the age-based vaccine rollout. And 32% of those surveyed for the poll – caried out on Wednesday and Thursday – said they disagree with the decision not to prioritise teachers and gardaí. Those who said they don’t know accounted for 7% of those polled.
Overall, however, most of the population do not believe the Government is doing a good job of managing the vaccine rollout.
Just 22% said the Government is doing a ‘good’ (18%) or ‘very good’ (4%) job of managing the rollout of the vaccine.
Conversely, a combined 48% of those surveyed said the coalition is doing a ‘poor’ (24%) or ‘very poor’ (24%) job of overseeing the nationwide inoculation programme.
Three out of 10 people (30%) said they think the coalition is doing an ‘average’ job when it comes to the vaccine rollout.
Similarly, there is not tremendous confidence in the coalition’s ability to manage the response to the pandemic. When asked: ‘Are you confident in the current Government’s ability to tackle the pandemic?’ just 35% answered Yes.
A substantial majority, 58%, said No while 7% answered that they did not know.
30% say coalition is doing an ‘average’ job The governmenT has changed The prioriTy lisT for who geTs a vaccine from a lisT ThaT prioriTised Teachers, gardaí and snas To one based only on age. do you agree or disagree wiTh This change?