Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Kelly for drafting the motion on behalf of the Labour Party and I acknowledge the widespread support of practically everyone in the Chamber who has spoken. It was almost everybody, which is very welcome. That is really important. As Deputy Bríd Smith observed, the concept of vaccination has saved millions of lives around the world.

The motion relates specifically to the HPV vaccine and its extension to boys. The background is that the percentages of take-up among girls who were being offered it in schools had fallen to 50%. Thankfully, it has now increased back up to 62% but it needs to be much higher. Examples from other countries show take-up rates high as 90%. We have to continue that we ensure that we get the rate up as high as we possibly can in this country and that we extend the vaccine to boys.

Deputy Harty just gave very strong medical evidence for why we should extend it to boys. The fact is that boys get cancers that are preventable through use of the HPV vaccine. They also transmit cancer to girls and women in later life. The importance of extending the vaccine to boys is very scientifically evident and I am glad the Minister has accepted that on behalf of the Government. However, we do need to address the issues which have been raised here by some Deputies here in respect of adverse reactions. I hope I am quoting Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin correctly when she said that there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine has long-term adverse effects. People acknowledge that there are a small number of adverse reactions and we need to be respectful of the parents who have recognised adverse reactions in their daughters. However, difficulties arise when that becomes a lobby which actually discourages people from having the vaccine. It is at this point that we must be clear and unequivocal that we advocate and encourage parents to ensure that their girls are vaccinated and, when the programme is extended, that their boys are vaccinated too. That is why I am very disappointed by Deputy Mattie McGrath indicating that he will not support the motion. One can be respectful and recognise parents who have concerns but when one transfers that into advocating for people not to be vaccinated, then one does a really strong disservice.

Several speakers referred to Laura Brennan who has cervical cancer which has no treatment, or rather she cannot be cured of it but treatment could prolong her life. She is a very vibrant young woman who should have a whole life ahead of her but the vaccine was not available when she was of the appropriate age. She was quoted in full earlier but I want just read one sentence into the record, namely, "If anything good comes from my situation, I hope that parents consider this – get the facts, get informed and make the decision to get their daughters vaccinated". People have quoted facts from the various bodies, including the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Irish Pharmacy Union, Irish Cancer Society, the HPV Alliance, major medical scientific bodies worldwide, including the WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the EU-funded European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.

They are just some of the bodies that have endorsed the vaccine. It is therefore quite clear that the scientific evidence for the positive effects of this vaccine is overwhelming. That is the message we need to get out there. As public representatives we have a very strong duty to encourage parents in every way we can to take the positive approach to this, to get the vaccine and to prevent the spread of cervical cancer. We know that 300 people per annum are diagnosed with cervical cancer. That is one of the highest rates in the world, so we clearly have a problem. While I welcome the progress that has been made, we need to make an awful lot more.

I also support those who have talked about other screening. Deputy Harty talked about the need to continue to have cervical screening even when one has had the vaccine. I have had cervical, breast and bowel screening myself and I encourage everybody to do so. We need to encourage people to take up offers of screening. The extension of these various screening programmes over recent years is very positive and we need to continue that extension.

People have talked about the eradication of disease. There are people living in this country who have what is called post-polio syndrome, but there are not people with polio because of vaccination. There is also vaccination for other diseases such as diptheria, tetanus and so on. The measles, mumps an rubella, MMR, vaccine has also been the subject of some controversy. In my constituency there is an outbreak of measles. It is in one particular part of the city and it is affecting quite a large number of people. The HSE has now extended its vaccination clinics. I attended a briefing a couple of days ago at which public representatives raised the issue of extending the clinics to after office hours and the HSE has agreed to do so. That is happening because of this outbreak of measles. This outbreak is a direct result of people being discouraged and not taking up the MMR vaccine. Measles is a serious disease. Public campaigns against general vaccination have serious consequences. I believe "herd" is the word used, but there certainly needs to be a broad uptake for there to be a public health benefit that saves people's lives.

The most important thing is obviously saving people's lives and giving people quality of life, but preventative medicine such as this, and public health in general, also prevents people taking up space in hospitals. We all know the problems of overcrowding. The whole argument around preventative health measures has to be constantly on the agenda because it is probable that not one of us does enough to ensure that we stay as healthy as possible. One of the most effective and in some ways easiest way in which to do that is to ensure that we avail of all of the various screening and vaccination programmes that are available.

Ultimately we have to depend on the scientific evidence. Deputy Daly raised issues of previous controversies around vaccinations, but the message today in respect of this particular vaccine and the associated public health programme has got to be absolutely unequivocal and clear that this vaccine has a positive effect and that it saves lives. It saves a very large number of lives when one considers the number of people who contract cervical cancer in Ireland. It is really important that we send out a positive message in that regard. That is why I welcome the very broad support for our motion today and the public health campaign that the Department and HSE have been continuing with. It behoves all of us in political life to support that and to continue to speak out on these issues.

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