Members of the Oireachtas must ready themselves to embrace and promote the Covid-19 vaccination programme – Seery-Kearney

Members of the Oireachtas must ready themselves to embrace and promote the Covid-19 vaccination programme, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Mary Seery-Kearney was speaking in relation to the news that we are significantly closer to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Senator Seery-Kearney said: “The announcement that Pfizer and BioNTech are expected to submit their COVID-19 vaccine to authorities for emergency approval in the third week of November is a long awaited light of hope coming at the end of what has been a very difficult year.

“Should the vaccine get the green light from the drug authorities, it is absolutely vital that all members of the Oireachtas embrace the vaccination programme that will ultimately result from it.

“Government and members of the National Public Health Emergency Team have expressed cautious optimism in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine trial and NPHET is currently engaging in anticipatory planning work for the distribution of whatever vaccine is ultimately approved.

“When the time comes, we must trust and support science.  Now is not the time for unscientific anti-vax rhetoric or vaccine hesitance.  All members of the Oireachtas have a duty and responsibility to support the effectiveness of any potential vaccine once licensed.

“Such a vaccine will bring a welcome relief to families, those especially in high risk groups and struggling businesses.  At the same time, I acknowledge that for those who have lost loved ones and those who have contracted the virus and are still suffering with its long term health consequences, it will, no doubt, ring a toll of sadness, coming as it is, too late for them.

“While a number of countries within Europe support mandatory vaccinations, Ireland has not considered such a move, preferring instead to respect the constitutional right to bodily integrity and relying on the voluntary buy-in by the people. Now is not the time for the deeply unscientific fear and populist scaremongering engaged in by some purely for political and contrarian purposes. I call upon every member of the Oireachtas to actively canvass the electorate to support the vaccine programme when it becomes available.”