AQW 4954/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 19/10/2022
Answered On Date: 26/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what measures are in place to ensure that Deaf people can give informed consent to receive Covid-19 vaccines.

Answer:

Like anyone else, a deaf person can access information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme via the NI Direct webpage. In addition, they can access all the relevant vaccination information leaflets via the PHA link on the same page.

If they need to speak to a health professional, a free remote interpreting service for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) users in Northern Ireland has been introduced which provides the facility for deaf people to communicate with any health care professional via an interpreter. This should enable a deaf person to make an informed consent decision as to whether or not they wish to book a vaccination slot.

If they have been invited by their own GP to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, then their GP should take into account their patient’s particular needs.

When attending a vaccination appointment, arrangements can be put in place to ensure additional time is given and if necessary, interpreter services can be arranged.