HSE boss defends 'pause' of AstraZeneca vaccine use as target falls short

A batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine. File picture: Marc O'Sullivan

The director-general of the HSE, Paul Reid, has defended the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) decision to ‘pause’ use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying that Ireland has a very good reputation for delivering vaccine programmes.

The NIAC decision protected that reputation for safety and he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that he hoped this would be a short pause.