Lots of positives in the ‘vaccine bonus’, but it is still unclear when grandparents can give hugs again

The bonus also includes people who have had a laboratory-confirmed case of Covid-19 in the previous six months.

They can meet up with other vaccinated people but crucially also reunite with non-vaccinated family and friends.

However, with four vaccines at our disposal now the rules are different, depending on what jab a person has got.

The Department of Health yesterday still could not say if grandparents who meet the guidelines can hug their grandchildren

What is the vaccine bonus?

It means that people who have had a certain level of vaccine doses can avail of more freedoms when meeting up with other people.

It also applies to someone who had Covid-19 in the previous six months, but it has to be laboratory confirmed.

So what are the benefits for those who have had an actual vaccine?

You can meet indoors with other fully vaccinated people as long as there are no more than three households present.

People who meet the criteria can also meet indoors with non-vaccinated people from one other household. But the people in the other household cannot have anyone at risk of severe illness. There can be no more than three households present.

How do you qualify as being fully vaccinated?

It is different for each vaccine.

People in their 60s are currently getting the AstraZeneca vaccine and will wait another three months to get a second jab. Do they qualify?

Yes, they can. But they have to wait four weeks after the first dose.

What if I got the Pfizer vaccine?

In that case you need two doses and it applies one week after the second dose.

Does someone who got the Moderna vaccine qualify?

If you got the Moderna vaccine you qualify two weeks after the second dose.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine involves one shot and is due to be administered here for the first time next week. Where does someone who gets that vaccine stand?

The bonus applies two weeks after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

I think I had Covid-19 in the last six months but I am not sure. Can I take a chance and meet up?

The case needs to be laboratory confirmed. The consensus is that people are immune for around six months.

Do people who qualify need to physically distance and wear a mask when meeting up with others?

No. Those two public health safeguards can be dispensed with.

I qualify. Can I meet my grandchildren? 

Yes. Grandparents can meet up with grandchildren.

I have been waiting a year to hug my grandchildren. Is that allowed?

The Department of Health was unable to answer that question yesterday despite being asked three times. A spokeswoman pointed to briefings provided by members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) in the Department of Health in Baggot St, Dublin.

However, when it was highlighted that questions posed by a journalist by email were safer, given the pandemic, and clarity was needed for safety of vulnerable older people, there was no response. So confusion reigns around grandparents hugging grandchildren.

I don’t want to avail of any bonus until I get clarity. Is that coming?

Hopefully it will come through before May 10 when it is due to apply.

How effective are vaccines?

No vaccine is 100pc safe and people who have been vaccinated can contract the virus. The vaccines dramatically reduce a person’s risk of getting very ill if they get Covid-19. We are still learning more about vaccines and the level of protection they give. There are newer variants against which the vaccines may be less effective.

How many people are vaccinated so far?

So far, over one million people have got a first dose and 419,665 are fully vaccinated. Around 180,000 have had a laboratory-confirmed case of the virus in the last six months and a proportion of these have died.

About 336,000 have had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. So potentially nearly one million people may qualify for the vaccine bonus, although the true figure is unclear.

This was announced without a full set of guidelines. Is that good communication?

No. Better communication is needed given the risks involved.

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland