Tánaiste says Ireland will survive COVID-19 by next September

DUBLIN: Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says Ireland will overcome COVID-19 by next September. Mr. Varadkar said the communication campaign will be essential to overcome the hesitancy of people to be vaccinated. He was speaking at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting.

He said the National Immunisation Advisory Committee would take a decision in the coming weeks. Mr. Varadkar said the vaccines are safe and effective and the entire population will be immunized by September-October next year.

The Tánaiste said Ireland has currently placed purchase orders for five or six vaccines. Pharmaceutical companies have previously been compensated at the time of the swine flu outbreak.

Varadkar also said that the safety profile of the current vaccines being considered by the European Union is positive. However, it remains unclear how long a vaccine will be effective, he said.