Dr. Kevin Connolly:

There is some overlap between the different questioners. I will try to cover all the points raised. It was noted that chronic fatigue syndrome is little known. It is estimated that perhaps 80% of cases are not reported and not diagnosed. There should be much more information out there because there is evidence that the earlier the diagnosis, the less severe the condition and the shorter its duration. Speakers referred to decisions made in Japan and Denmark. In June 2013 - ironically, a day after the World Health Organization declared the vaccine to be safe - the Japanese Ministry for Health issued a notice that while the HPV vaccine could still be given for free to girls aged 12 to 16, it should neither be proactively recommended nor promoted. That decision was not made by either the regulators or the equivalent of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee. With regard to the authorities in Denmark changing the vaccine that is administered there, my understanding is that this was a commercial, cost-based decision. Instead of giving the four-component vaccine we are using, they are now giving the two-component vaccine and, unfortunately, that means they will see an increase in the incidence of anal-genital warts.

Regarding the provision of information, the website of the Department of Social Protection contains an extremely good article on the definition and diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and the services available through the Department for people suffering from it.