Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House on it.

Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of invasive meningococcal disease, commonly known as meningitis. In 2013, 81 cases of invasive meningococcal disease were notified in Ireland, with serogroup B, commonly referred to as meningitis B, accounting for 68 of these cases. This represents a decline of 77% from the peak in 1999 when 292 cases of meningitis B were notified. Despite this significant improvement, Ireland has the highest incidence of meningococcal disease, particularly meningitis B, among EU countries. Since 1999, 51% of cases have occurred in children aged under two years. The highest age specific incidence rate for meningitis B cases is seen in young children under four years of age, particularly those in the first year of life. In 2013 the age specific incidence rate was 35.9 per 100,000 for children less than a year old, with another smaller peak seen among older teenagers. Low rates are normally seen in those older than 25 years.

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC. This is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising experts in a number of specialties, including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by evidence based public health advice, international best practice and cost benefit analyses carried out by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.

In January 2013 a new vaccine against invasive meningococcal disease serogroup B received marketing authorisation from the European Commission. The NIAC is monitoring international data for the use of this vaccine as part of immunisation programmes. It has recently issued guidance relating to its use in the control of clusters or outbreaks of meningitis B. However, to date, as the Senator pointed out, it has made no recommendation on the introduction of meningococcal B vaccination in the primary childhood immunisation schedule. Meningococcal B vaccine was discussed at the NIAC meeting on 24 March. The decision on whether to recommend the inclusion of the vaccine in the primary immunisation programme raises complex issues that require thoughtful consideration. New information on this issue, including revised parameters for assessment used recently by the joint committee for vaccination and immunisation in the United Kngdom, is being taken into account.

I am sure the House will appreciate that it would be inappropriate to comment on anticipated outcomes of the deliberations of the NIAC. However, should the committee advise the inclusion of a new meningococcal B vaccine in the primary childhood vaccination programme in Ireland, the Department, in association with the Health Service Executive's national immunisation office, will then examine and address the matter.