John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 310: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a list of ingredients, side effects and possible adverse reactions is not automatically given to parents to read before giving their consent to have their child vaccinated with the MMR vaccine; the further reason a system of routine blood tests by general practitioners has not been implemented which would indicate whether a booster shot is necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24808/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive, HSE, which has statutory responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, has provided the following information regarding the administration of the MMR vaccine.

The HSE sends all parents a detailed information booklet when they are invited to contact their general practitioner for their first immunisation appointment. This booklet, Your Child's Immunisations — A Guide for Parents, is also available from general practitioners. In addition, each vial of any vaccine, including the MMR vaccine, comes with a statement of product characteristics, SPC, leaflet which contains information for parents. This includes a list of ingredients, side effects and possible adverse reactions. It is recommended as best practice that this SPC leaflet should be given to parents to read before giving their consent to have their child vaccinated with any vaccine including the MMR.

When vaccination takes place in schools, parents are sent an information leaflet with details of side effects and adverse reactions for each of the vaccines and also a consent form. The information leaflet also includes contact details for a community health doctor for any additional queries. If parents wish, they will be given an appointment to attend the school when the vaccination takes place.

The national immunisation schedule is developed based on the advice of the national immunisation advisory committee of the Royal College of Physicians. The advice of the committee is informed by the professional expertise of its members and is based on international best practice and research. No recommendation had been received from that body stating that routine blood tests for infants are necessary in advance of booster shots of the MMR vaccine. My Department is not aware of any country with a health system similar to ours in which this testing is routine practice.

I would urge all parents to have their children immunised against the diseases covered by the childhood immunisation programme in order to ensure that both their children and the population generally have maximum protection against the diseases concerned.