Mr. Greg Dempsey:

In the response I received from the National Immunisation Office, it is split into the childhood programmes and the Covid and flu programmes. In respect of the childhood programmes, the National Immunisation Office has various initiatives to ensure the material parents will use is clear and easy to understand and avoids complex medical jargon. It uses leaflets, posters and digital content but it is all very comprehensible. It also ensures the information on its digital platforms is compatible with screen readers and so forth. The intention is that parents of all children will be able to understand what the vaccine programme is about and be assured of its safety.

In respect of Covid and flu vaccines, from 1 October this year the HSE vaccination teams provide on-site winter vaccinations to residents of residential care facilities. That is older persons, people with disabilities, those in mental health facilities and individuals who are housebound. For children's flu vaccines, they are being offered the nasal flu spray in their schools.