Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am replying on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, who cannot be here today. I agree with the Senator's concern that the figures have dropped, with an uptake of 87% decreasing to below 50% this year. I thank her for the opportunity to update the House on this important matter.

First, I note the concerns of families who believe their daughters have experienced adverse reactions and health issues after receiving the HPV vaccine. I know girls in my constituency who have experienced a very difficult time in the last number of years. No parent should have to see their child suffer. I assure these girls and their families that they are eligible to seek medical treatment for their symptoms. As the Senator mentioned, they should be provided with a clear pathway for any treatment they require. It appears that some girls first suffered symptoms around the time that they received the HPV vaccine, but this does not mean that the vaccine caused the symptoms. Negative publicity and misinformation are certainly affecting the uptake of the vaccine. We must ensure that people understand that the vaccine is safe and can save lives.

I will first present the facts.This vaccine protects against two high-risk types of the virus that cause 73% of all cervical cancers. It is estimated that HPV vaccination will eventually save 60 lives a year in this country. HPV vaccine safety has been monitored for more than ten years by many international bodies, including the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization. It has been found to be a safe and effective vaccination.

The HSE has been working with other stakeholders since early this year to counteract negative publicity and misinformation about the vaccine. The Irish Cancer Society has held two public meetings in Galway and Cork, two areas where uptake rates of the vaccine had reduced significantly. These meetings have included talks by a renowned international HPV cancer expert, Professor Margaret Stanley, as well as cervical cancer survivors and hospital consultants. The parents of first-year secondary school girls have been given revised information leaflets, consent forms and contact phone numbers for their local immunisation offices. Any queries they have concerning the vaccination can be addressed by the school immunisation team prior to vaccination day. In addition, girls who may have declined the first dose of vaccine will get an opportunity to receive this when the school immunisation team revisits the school. Information about the vaccine and its benefits has been circulated to all school principals, management bodies, the National Parents Council and general practitioners. Officials from the HSE have met representatives of the Department of Education and school management bodies.

Prior to the start of the 2016-17 school immunisation programme, there was a co-ordinated local and national media campaign involving the Irish Cancer Society, the HSE communications unit and the national cancer screening programme. This campaign stressed the importance and safety of the HPV vaccination. It is intended that the promotion of the HPV vaccine as a safe and effective vaccine will continue. The HSE plans to commence focus groups with parents in the near future. I take this opportunity to thank the dedicated people in all organisations who are working hard to improve the uptake of this important vaccine. They know how safe and effective this vaccine is, and I want to join them in encouraging all the parents of eligible girls to ensure their daughters receive this important cancer-preventing vaccine. The Department of Health has asked the HSE and HIQA to carry out a health technology assessment on the proposal to extend the HPV programme to boys. Any new recommendations in this regard will be considered.