Under 50s who had Covid to be considered 'fully vaccinated' after one jab

Professor Karina Butler, Chair of National Immunisation Advisory 

People aged under 50 years, who are not immunocompromised and who have had a Covid-19 infection in the last six months can be considered 'fully vaccinated after just one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, under revised Government vaccination plans.

It is understood the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) advised the Cabinet there is "good evidence" that those who have contracted Covid-19 previously and subsequently received a single dose of an mRNA vaccine have a similar antibody response to those who have never had the coronavirus and who had received two doses of an mRNA vaccine. 

A second dose would not seem to increase the power of that immune response, they added.

Niac also advised that there should be no change to the spacing out of doses of mRNA vaccines Pfizer and Moderna.

Currently, the interval is four weeks between the first and second jab. There had been some discussion about extending the gap between the first and second doses of both vaccines to 12 weeks, the interval between doses in the UK. 

NIAC has recommended that pregnant women be offered an mRNA vaccine – that is a Pfizer or Moderna dose – between their 14th and 36th weeks of pregnancy upon consultation with their doctor.

The Cabinet has also accepted Niac's recommendation that pregnant women be offered an mRNA vaccine between their 14th and 36th weeks of pregnancy upon consultation with their doctor.

Mr Donnelly said pregnant women will not be added as their own cohort, but work is ongoing with the HSE to ensure their GPs or maternity hospital doctors can arrange vaccination for these women.

Pregnant women can expect to hear in the coming weeks from their doctors about a vaccination appointment.

"We're working through with the HSE right now, we only got the advice last night," Mr Donnelly said, adding that pregnant women can "absolutely" expect to hear from their doctor in the coming weeks.

Niac has also recommended that the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines be offered to people over the age of 50 only. 

Niac has recommended that the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines be offered to people over the age of 50 only. 

Previously, the AstraZeneca vaccine had been available to those over 60. It is hoped that this move will greatly speed up the vaccination of those over 50, which will have knock-on effects for those in younger cohorts.

Mr Donnelly also confirmed that Cabinet had agreed to his suggestion to add India to the mandatory hotel quarantine list. 

India is undergoing a deadly wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and crematoria and hospitals are reported to be stretched beyond capacity. 

Ireland announced on Monday it would send 700 oxygen concentrators to the stricken country.