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

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his kind remarks. It is always good to be back in the Upper House, even if it is sitting in the Dáil Chamber today.

I thank Senator Ruane for affording me the opportunity to speak on this very important matter. The immunisation programme is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, NIAC. The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to the Department of Health.

The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the pattern of disease.Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to he amended over time. In 2009, the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, recommended HPV, or human papillomavirus, vaccination for all 12 to 13-year-old girls to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they are adults. In 2010, the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in the first year of secondary school. The NIAC recommended that the HPV vaccine should be given to boys. On foot of these recommendations, the Department of Health asked the Health Information and Quality Authority to undertake a health technology assessment to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the current immunisation programme to include boys in the first year of secondary school.

HIQA completed the health technology assessment in December 2018, which recommended the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys. A policy decision was made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys, starting in September 2019, with the introduction of a 9-valent HPV vaccine. However, the HIQA reports published in December 2018 did not recommend an HPV catch-up programme for older boys for the following reason: vaccinating boys in first year of school provides the best possible protection against HPV infection and boys already benefit from indirect herd protection provided by the girls' HPV vaccination programme which started in 2010.

The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative, it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes sexually active, that is, before a person is first exposed to HPV infection. It is important to note that HPV vaccine has not been shown to have a therapeutic effect on existing infection or cervical lesions.

The gender-neutral vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in the first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage. It should be noted that all vaccines administered through the school immunisation programme are provided free of charge. The Department of Heath will continue to be guided by the NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence in the future.

I have listened to what Senator Ruane has said about the brilliant safety campaign and to the fact that if people change their mind, they can be charged up to €700 and what she says makes sense. I will bring that back to the Department in order that it might be looked into.