Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

We might give consideration to the measure, especially if we could deliver it at a cost of €19 million. However, I suspect that were we to take such an approach, it would cost much more to include the group in question. Clearly, our aim is to have a 70% uptake among the at-risk group by 2010, which has great benefits. Members are all aware, from their experiences with elderly people, that those who receive the flu vaccine are less likely to encounter winter complications. It is highly successful.

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