Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the basis, with regard to the primary childhood immunisation schedule, on which the decision was taken to include Hepatitis B and pneumococcus in the schedule from 2008; if there will be a catch-up programme for older children; if consideration was given to including Varicella Zoster in the schedule; if so, the reason this was not done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27176/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Ireland's recommended immunisation programme is based on the guidelines of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. These guidelines are prepared with the assistance of an active committee from associated disciplines in paediatrics, infectious diseases, general practice and public health.

The policy decision to introduce Hepatitis B and pneumococcal vaccines into the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme was based on advice received from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee as part of its review of the immunisation guidelines. This advice is based on epidemiological information about the occurrence of these diseases and evidence as to the public health benefit to be obtained from immunisation. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee also commissioned cost benefit analyses of both of these measures. My Department received advice about a catch-up programme for children up to 2 years of age for pneumococcal vaccine and has conveyed this advice to the Health Service Executive. This advice has been taken into account by the Health Service Executive in preparing its 2008 service plan. As part of its ongoing work the National Immunisation Advisory Committee keeps all available vaccines under review. I understand that Varicella Zoster was considered by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee in the review of the immunisation programme but its inclusion in the programme was not recommended.