Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which was introduced in 2010, protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It also protects against head and neck cancer, anal cancer and genital warts. It is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in the first year of secondary school.

I am aware of claims of an association between the HPV vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women. It appears that some of the girls first suffered symptoms around the time they received the HPV vaccine and, understandably, some parents have connected the vaccine to their daughters' illness. I want to make it clear that anyone who is suffering ill health is eligible to seek medical attention and to access appropriate health and social care services, irrespective of the cause of their symptoms or what they believe to be the cause of their symptoms.

In 2013, the World Health Organization's global advisory committee on vaccine safety reviewed data from post-licensure monitoring of the HPV vaccine. The review found no new adverse outcomes relating to the HPV vaccine. I am aware from the media of allegations of manipulation and suppression of scientific data relating to the HPV made by an individual doctor. The doctor wrote an open letter of complaint to the director general of the World Health Organization on 14 January 2016. I am advised that the World Health Organization has not yet responded to this letter.

In recent days my Department made contact with the World Health Organization and expressed its interest in being advised of the World Health Organization's response as soon as it is made public. I wish to know what the World Health Organization's response to the allegations is before commenting further or taking a view on them.

In November 2015, the European Medicines Agency completed a detailed scientific review of the HPV vaccine which found no evidence of a causal link between the vaccine and two conditions that it has been suggested may be linked to the vaccine. On 12 January 2016, the Commission endorsed the conclusion of the European Medicines Agency that there is no need to change the way HPV vaccines are used or to amend the product information.

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