Seanad debates

Tuesday, 27 February 2018

2:30 pm

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise an issue referred to in an article on the front page of today's edition of the Irish Examiner, which reported on the measles outbreak in Limerick. It identifies 18 out of the 20 people affected as having not been vaccinated. It highlights the importance of vaccination in that whole area. The uptake of measles vaccination over recent years has decreased. We need to reach a target of approximately 95% vaccination in order for it to be fully effective. It is disappointing that the uptake has decreased by so much. What has now occurred in the Limerick area highlights its importance. It is time for us to encourage both the Minister for Health and the HSE to put an appropriate campaign in place to help highlight the importance of this vaccination. There is also good news in respect of vaccination. The uptake of the HPV vaccination programme has increased in 2017 compared with 2016 and now stands at 62%.There is a programme due to operate again in March and April encouraging parents to have their secondary school children vaccinated. Hopefully that percentage can continue to increase. Vaccination helps to prevent particular infections or diseases occurring and it helps to reduce demand on our health care system. It is important that we encourage everybody to avail of the vaccine when it is available. At this stage it is important that the Minister and the HSE organise a major information campaign on these two areas. I am aware that a lot of work was done in August, September and October on the HPV vaccine. This needs to be done again to continue to grow the number of people who will avail of the vaccine. It is a very important issue and is something we should be encouraging.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.