Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a timely motion because of the efforts of the past number of years to increase the take-up of the Gardasil vaccine in girls due to the fact that there was a major fall-off, as outlined by previous speakers, in recent years. That fall-off happened in large part due to concerns that were raised through social media and by parents of girls with chronic fatigue syndrome and other types of symptoms they associated with the Gardasil vaccine. However, the empirical evidence is quite clear, and we can only make policies in this Chamber that affect not only the health but the lives of people based on such evidence. If one looks at the international reviews of the various HPV vaccines, it is clear that it is very safe and that it saves lives. In this country alone, it will save the lives of 90 women every year. The fact that there was a drop-off in the take-up of the Gardasil vaccine will cost women their lives in the years ahead. We have to be very honest when we say that. Misinformation being put out on social media, for whatever reason, has an impact in the sense that a reduction in the take-up means that there will be severe consequences for a certain percentage of women in the years ahead, as outlined by the Minister.

The motion, sponsored by Deputy Kelly, is timely. It allows to us again show our commitment to the vaccine as a public health policy initiative and to encourage the greater take-up of it. We have been involved for a while on an ad hoc, cross-party basis in recent times to help increase awareness levels of the vaccine and to get parents and youth organisations involved in discussing this issue to ensure that there is at least a knowledge of what it is about. We have to let them know that much of the information available on social media describing the damage the vaccine can cause is misinformation, is incorrect, and, in some cases, is being sponsored by people who are opposed not only to this vaccine but to vaccines in general. That issue has to be addressed and challenged on a continual basis.

The WHO's commentary on the vaccine demonstrates its safety quite clearly. There have been approximately 200 million doses of the vaccine administered across the globe. It is without question an exceptionally safe vaccine. We have to accept not only the WHO's findings but also the evidence from the vast majority of the countries using the Gardasil HPV vaccine. These are First World countries with First World health systems. There are checks and balances in their health services. The countries using the vaccine include Australia, Canada and most European states. We can be very confident in that context that there are very thorough checks and regulatory assessments of vaccines before they are administered. The context of the monitoring of the vaccines and the impact they have on the impact of the health of the various populations is something we can take comfort from.

The reason there was a fall-off was due to a campaign against the vaccine. When there is no proactive response to such a campaign the misinformation becomes the information of the day. If there is no rebuttal, it can gain traction and can take on a certain element of credibility. We have made the point at the Joint Committee on Health and at the cross-party meetings we held to try to highlight the need to increase the take-up of the Gardasil vaccine that said vacuum cannot be allowed to exist for long from a public health policy point of view. I believe that for a period we were lethargic in challenging the particular information that was circulating concerning the impact that Gardasil vaccines have on the health of young girls. There is no doubt that there is a cohort of people who are absolutely convinced that their child was or is damaged because of the Gardasil vaccine. When there is no response to or engagement with that and these particular cases are allowed to come to the fore in social media and then in mainstream media, the public health policy of trying to get as many young girls to get this vaccine is undermined. It was a big mistake, from a public health perspective, not to challenge and not to engage with the individuals who had concerns. The amendment tabled by Deputies Wallace, Clare Daly and Pringle indicates that this is of concern. We should learn the lessons from that particular episode.

Reference has been made to the new campaign that has begun. This motion will help that. Laura Brennan's story was also mentioned.

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It demonstrates the stark reality that people discouraging the uptake of this particular vaccine, for whatever reason or motivation, will impact on women's heath in the years ahead. It will cost people their lives, and we know that for a statistical fact. When people talk about this particular issue and their concerns, they have to realise at the back of their minds that the empirical evidence is clear and concise. This is a very safe vaccine.

The reason for this motion is not only to encourage the uptake of the Gardasil vaccine among the female population, but also among the male population. We all know that herd immunisation is what we want, that is, the point where a critical mass of people have taken the vaccine. I implore the Minister of State, the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, and those who are doing the assessment to move quickly to ensure that this is also rolled out to boys throughout the country. Where it has been rolled out in other countries, it has had a meaningful impact in reducing harmful cancers among the male population. As I said, we are aiming for cross-immunisation and herd immunisation. For all those reasons, I compliment and concur with the motion. I urge people to engage positively with the information published by the national and international public health authorities, and accept that this is a safe vaccine and that it does and will save lives.

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