Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the overall cost of the flu vaccine; the uptake in 2005 and to date in 2006; if there was a drop in the rates of flu as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35460/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The overall cost of the influenza vaccine campaign was €10.837m for the 2004/2005 influenza season and €11.465m in the 2005/2006 season. Final costs are not yet available for the current season. The figures given include the costs of the media campaigns, the flu vaccine and GP fees.

Influenza vaccine uptake statistics are available for those aged 65 years and over. Data provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) indicate that the uptake of influenza vaccine in those aged 65 years and over for the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 influenza seasons was as follows:

In Ireland the current influenza season (2006/2007) began on Week 40 (commencing October 2nd 2006) and no cases of influenza have been reported in this period. The influenza-like illness rates have been very low so far with rates of 2.7, 8.9 and 2.6 per 100,000 for weeks 40 to 42 respectively. I should add that the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS) has reported that influenza activity is low across Europe this season to date.