Covid-19: All NI adults 'still getting Covid jab by end of July'

Health Minister Robin Swann says every adult in Northern Ireland will still get their first vaccine dose by the end of July.

It follows an expected reduction in the UK's Covid-19 vaccine supply.

That is partly due to a delay in a delivery from India of five million Oxford-AstraZeneca doses.

Mr Swann said officials were doing all they could to ensure any delays to the department's timeline were shortened as much as possible.

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Speaking on BBC Newsline, Mr Swann said he did not expect any changes to the lifting of Northern Ireland's coronavirus restrictions in light of the vaccine supply.

"We don't put dates to anything and I think it's exactly these sorts of unforeseen circumstances that allow us to take that approach," he said.

"The announcements made on Tuesday in regards to the next phase of lifting restrictions won't be affected by the delay of this supply of vaccine.

"I don't think this delay should have an effect on what the executive wants to do in easing further restrictions."

A paper from the Department of Health shows that the R number in Northern Ireland is currently at between 0.9-1.10.

The minister said it showed the rate of infection was still decreasing, which meant the executive had been allowed to progress with making some changes to the lockdown regulations.

"One of the things we've always been aware of is keeping R below one... considering where we were back in mid-December, early January we are still moving in the right direction," he added.

"That comes about by the observance of restrictions and regulations but also by greater uptake of the vaccine as well and when we look to the hope that the vaccine brings that will allow us to come out of an incredibly dark time."

Increased use of Pfizer vaccine

Earlier on Thursday, the head of Northern Ireland's vaccination programme told the Stormont Assembly more Pfizer doses would be used until extra AstraZeneca jabs arrive.

She said anyone expecting a second dose or who had already booked their first would have their appointments honoured.

First jabs would continue in April, if at a slightly reduced rate, she added.

On Thursday, another Covid-19-related death and 169 new cases of the virus were recorded in Northern Ireland.

There were no coronavirus-related deaths reported in the Irish Republic on Thursday.

However, there were 582 confirmed new cases of the virus in the country.

Rollout for over-40s delayed

Vaccine delivery issues could put the rollout plan back by four weeks in a "worst-case scenario", Ms Donnelly told Stormont's Health Committee, but the delay was more likely to be about two weeks.

"The mitigation measures that we put in place we hope will only delay us by two weeks, so it won't have a huge impact," she said.

It had been hoped vaccinations would be on offer to all people over the age of 40 when a mass vaccination centre at Belfast's SSE Arena opened on 29 March, but this would likely be delayed by two weeks, said Ms Donnelly.

"It will very much depend on the remaining deliveries that we get from AstraZeneca," she said.

"We have tried to find some mitigation through further use of the Pfizer vaccine.

Ms Donnelly said three of Northern Ireland's five health trusts would now rely mainly on Pfizer doses until more AstraZeneca supplies arrived.

'Ahead of schedule'

On Wednesday, NHS England warned there could be a "significant reduction" in the number of doses available in April.

Earlier, Health Minister Robin Swann said Northern Ireland's vaccine rollout was ahead of schedule and would be able to adapt.

News of the UK vaccine shortage was frustrating, if not surprising, said the chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee in Northern Ireland.

"The pace of vaccination has depended on the supply from the outset," tweeted Dr Alan Stout.

"We've done so well, so far, that the vast majority of those people who are at risk have now had their first dose," He told The Nolan Show.

"If it does mean that the consequences of delaying a first dose to someone we know who is at less risk, then that's going to have to be a decision that's made to protect those second doses."

Northern Ireland was still on course to meet its target of having most adults vaccinated by June or July, said Justice Minister Naomi Long.

'A welcome step forward'

Meanwhile, more than 300 pharmacies have signed up to be part of the vaccination scheme.

Official launch of the rollout will begin on 30 March, although some pharmacies may start before then.

"Their contribution to getting as many people vaccinated as possible will be invaluable," said Mr Swann.

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The chief executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene, said. "The accessibility and reach of the community pharmacy network, with pharmacists as skilled vaccinators, means they are well equipped to take part in the vaccine programme."

Mr Greene called their inclusion in the programme "a fantastic and welcome step forward" and said that this will not affect other pharmacy services.

Community pharmacies were used to having to deal with supply issues, he said, adding that the anticipated drop in vaccine supply was unlikely to undermine Northern Ireland's programme.