Ms Susan Clyne:

I understand the HSE will make some proposals to the committee this afternoon in relation to the flu vaccination but it has already been announced that the flu vaccination will now be extended to children between the ages of two and 12.

The IMO had called a number of months ago for Government to look at a total population vaccination programme and to sit down and talk to us about that. What we are concerned about is that we are now coming towards the end of July. We need to sit down and talk about the flu vaccination programme now. Respiratory illnesses will start circulating in early September. We need to have a plan. We need to understand what is going to happen so that GPs can prepare. We have to acknowledge the fact that the days of a full waiting room in general practice are long gone. There are no more walk-in clinics. Everything is by appointment. Therefore, GPs will have to prepare to a certain extent for some vaccination clinics and we need to sit down with the HSE. We are due to meet them next week, but we would have been in favour of a total population vaccination programme delivered in general practice.