Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Stanley for giving me the opportunity to update the House, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on the schools-based immunisation programme in the midlands. We know from international literature that the highest uptake is obtained if immunisations are delivered in schools. It is vital, therefore, that children have an opportunity to avail of their immunisations in this way.

We are all too aware of the disruption that has been caused globally and here in Ireland due to the pandemic and, unfortunately, the schools-based immunisation programme has not escaped interruption. Due to the closure of school buildings in mid-March as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the schools-based immunisation programme was suspended. At that time, approximately one-third of students in junior infants still had outstanding vaccines. The visits to second level schools had only just commenced for the second dose of the HPV and the meningococcal vaccines. Therefore, about 90% were outstanding.

To address this issue, all CHO areas provided clinics for the outstanding immunisations to school-aged children in catch-up clinics over the summer months. Children who were unable to attend the catch-up clinics were offered additional chances to receive the immunisations in the academic year 2020 to 2021. Regrettably, the schools-based immunisation programmes, which were scheduled to begin in September 2020, were deferred in the counties covered by the midlands, including Louth, Meath, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. This was due to staff being redeployed to support testing, contact tracing, and the public health departments.

I am pleased to advise that the HSE has reviewed the situation and a recovery plan has been prepared for school immunisation for 2020 and 2021. It is intended that the schools-based immunisation programme will resume in the coming weeks. In addition, it is important to note that those who are targeted for school immunisation in 2020 and 2021 will have their necessary vaccinations fully completed by summer 2021.

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