RACE TO BEAT BOOSTER WASTE

NOVEMBER 29

Vaccine centre staff are told they will be switching from using Pfizer to Moderna vaccines from December 2 during a national Medicines Management meeting with the HSe. They are told that this is due to two million doses of Moderna vaccine expiring in January.

DECEMBER 8

The irish Mail on Sunday is told about the change by concerned vaccine centre workers who ask why so many doses are due to expire in such a short space of time and why it wasn’t flagged earlier? The MOS immediately puts this to the HSe.

DECEMBER 10

The HSe responds and states: ‘To ensure that we maximise the usage of all cOViD-19 vaccine available, vaccination centres will primarily use Moderna vaccine for booster doses to persons aged 30 years and over in the coming weeks.

‘Wastage levels are monitored across our vaccination channels on a regular basis. no issues of concern have been raised regarding levels of wastage. Outbound supply to vaccine administration sites is managed through a robust demand, planning and distribution process with supply levels adequately meeting the needs of these vaccination sites.’

DECEMBER 17

The HSe strongly denies that Moderna vaccines are expiring: ‘The claim of two million doses due to expire is untrue, there are in fact only 200 doses due to expire by January 31 and

given the pace and significant uptake by those who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine, they will be administered in ample time and will not expire before use.’ they seek a clarification.

DECEMBER 21

When asked if the small figure of 200 doses expiring in January is correct, the hSe responds to confirm it was on the date it was checked. And then confirms that there are now none.

At the same time, the MOS’s source sends us a picture of vaccines about to expire in January, appearing to contradict what the hSe press office says.

On that basis the MOS rejects the request for a clarification and stands over the story.

JANUARY 22

the MOS learns of another National Medicines Management meeting held by the hSe with vaccine centre staff who are told that 250,000 Moderna vaccines will expire in vaccine centres alone by the end of January.

And 200,000 of those doses will not be used. this is put to the hSe by the MOS.

In response they admit that 100,000 doses were wasted in the last week and that a further 500,000 are at risk of expiring by the end of January.

JANUARY 27

Asked about the discrepency in statements the hSe insists the vaccines going to waste now were only opened after our previous inquiries.