Donnelly: No decision this week on Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Rollout has resumed across Europe as the European Medicines Agency said the benefits of the jab in preventing Covid-19 outweigh the risks of side-effects

Professor Karina Butler, chair of National Immunisation Advisory Committee, and Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer: Niac will rule next week on use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

No decision will be made on the approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for use in Ireland this week, the Health Minister has told the Dáil.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) met on Thursday to discuss the vaccine, which had had its rollout suspended to investigate a small number of blood clotting incidents. Niac has recommended that the Astrazeneca vaccine be used only by those over 60 due to similar fears.