Report on addressing Vitamin D deficiency as a public health measure in Ireland.

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The Joint Committee on Health

The Committee heard evidence that Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent across the population and the report recommends that public health measures are established to address that deficiency. These public health measures are preventative in nature and are recommended to reduce the risk of respiratory and other illnesses such as osteoporosis.

1 That daily Vitamin D supplementation of 20-25µg/day should be recommended to the entire adult population as a public health measure,

higher doses recommended for vulnerable groups under medical supervision.

2 That a public health policy, which promotes better knowledge of the benefits of Vitamin D, and which encourages Vitamin D supplementation, should be developed in time for consideration in Budget 2022.

3 That reducing the cost of Vitamin D supplementation, in order to promote its uptake, should be considered.

4 That specific measures need to be put in place for vulnerable groups, and for frontline and healthcare workers,

so that Vitamin D supplementation is administered on an opt-out basis,

and for the duration of this pandemic, people should be offered Vitamin D supplements when presenting at Covid-19 test centres.