Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

In some individuals, particularly those most at risk, Hib will invade the body causing invasive disease.

The Hib vaccine was introduced into Ireland in 1992 and since then babies have been routinely immunised at two, four and six months of age. There was a dramatic decrease in the number of Hib cases from 100 per year in the late 1980s to ten cases or less by 2002. Although a slight increase in total Hib diseases has been seen since 2003, the total number of cases in children under 15 years has only increased slightly. There were seven cases in 2002, ten in 2003, nine in 2004 and 11 up to September of this year.

Most of the cases were in non-vaccinated children up to 2004. The priority was to improve the vaccination uptake. A recent cause of concern has been the steady increase in the number of children developing Hib disease despite full vaccination, referred to as the Hib vaccine failures. From 1996 to 2003, one to four children each year developed Hib despite full vaccination. This rose to six in 2004 and there have been ten cases this year to September.

The national immunisation advisory committee has been keeping the position under review. A letter on 28 July recommended that the Department implement a catch-up campaign for children from six months to four years of age as soon as possible. In addition, the advisory committee will recommend a booster dose of Hib vaccines as part of the primary immunisation schedule in the planned new additions to the guidelines. The Health Service Executive announced on 20 September that it made the introduction of a campaign an urgent priority. It will commence its introduction as soon as possible.

The campaign is due to be launched in November 2005. It will be implemented on a phased basis over six months, phase 1 to cover children aged one year and not yet two years, phase 2, children aged two years and not yet three years, phase 3, children aged three years and not yet four years. Children becoming 12 months of age during the campaign will also be offered the vaccine. A portion of the vaccine has already arrived and will be distributed to general practitioners.

An initial letter will be forwarded to general practitioners in the coming week advising them of the phased implementation. Further letters will issue at the commencement of each phase of the campaign. A letter will be issued to all parents and guardians of children in each of the phases inviting them to attend for vaccination. Information leaflets for parents and health professionals have been compiled and will be circulated prior to the commencement of the campaign. Public awareness initiatives will also be organised at the commencement of each phase of the campaign.

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