Extra cash from Treasury will fund vaccines — but no rollout timetable from Swann

The cost of rolling out coronavirus vaccines in Northern Ireland is likely to be in the “tens of millions”, Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride has said.
By Niall Deeney
Published 25th Nov 2020, 19:38 BST
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 25th November 2020 - Health Minister Robin Swann addresses the media during a Department of Health press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont this afternoon. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 25th November 2020 - Health Minister Robin Swann addresses the media during a Department of Health press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont this afternoon. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 25th November 2020 - Health Minister Robin Swann addresses the media during a Department of Health press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont this afternoon. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Health Minister Robin Swann said funding for a vaccination programme would be a “key priority” for his department when it comes to its share of a £900 million boost for Stormont following the UK government’s latest spending review.

“In regards to our key priorities for additional finance, I don’t think there will be a big change apart from the one that does present to us very quickly – a vaccination programme across Northern Ireland,” the minister said.

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But neither Mr Swann nor Dr McBride could provide a firm timeline for the rollout of any vaccination programme here.

Speaking during a press briefing earlier this evening, the pair were asked by the News Letter to spell out the likely time frames for when various population groups would be offered a vaccine.

“The exact time frame will be critically dependent on when these vaccines get regulatory approval,” Dr McBride said.

Mr Swann said Northern Ireland would follow the UK government’s approach to prioritising the first vaccinations for certain sections of the population.

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“One of the things we have agreed across the four nations with regards to vaccines is to follow the guidance of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation who set the order of priority,” Mr Swann said.

He explained that older adults and residents in care homes would be offered the vaccinations first, followed by the over 80s age group and healthcare workers. Afterwards, his department would “work down by age” until “we eventually get to the rest of the population”.

Asked whether lockdowns and other restrictions would still be necessary once the most vulnerable had been vaccinated, Mr Swann said: “It’s not just about vaccinating the most vulnerable in our society and then allowing a complete return to normal.

“It will be about a phased approach of balancing vaccination, mass testing, contact tracing but also with restrictions in play in certain areas.”

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Mr Swann also said he would give a presentation to Stormont ministers about what the vaccination programme would look like.

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Related topics:Robin SwannNorthern IrelandJoint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation