Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is very encouraging to hear the statistics the Minister of State has put on the record. I very much welcome the mop-up programme and the broad lens approach that is being adopted by the Department and the HSE because that is what we need to do. We must think outside the box and the Department is doing that.

I wish to inquire about the cost of vaccination for people who decided latterly to take up the vaccine, having not done so when the opportunity was initially available in schools. Unfortunately, if parents see the obvious health benefits of vaccination and decide to bring a young person who was offered the vaccine six or 12 months previously for the vaccine, the cost is approximately €600. It is punitive and does not encourage people to take up the vaccine. I hope the Minister of State will look at eliminating the cost because it would make vaccination far more attractive for people who were initially hesitant.