Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 287: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the Hib booster campaign to protect two to four year old children from diseases, including meningitis, has commenced; if not, the reason thereof; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35640/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Hib catch-up booster campaign organised by the Health Service Executive began on Monday, 21 November 2005. The HSE began planning for the current booster campaign following a recommendation from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee. The campaign is designed to offer the Hib catch-up booster vaccine to further protect children aged between one and four years against haemophilus influenza type b, Hib, infection.

The booster is available free of charge from general practitioners to all 220,000 children in the appropriate age groups, who will be called to receive it between now and the middle of next May. The campaign is being run in three phases. Children who are one year-old are now being called and parents of these children will receive information telling them when and how their child can get the booster. Children aged two and three years will be offered the vaccine in January and February and their parents will be contacted at that time. All children reaching one year of age during the campaign will also be offered the Hib booster vaccine. I urge all parents who have children in this age group to get the Hib catch-up booster vaccine.