Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a programme of vaccination against cervical cancer will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2706/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The most effective strategy for the prevention of cervical cancer requires decisions based on an assessment of the relative contributions of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination and cervical screening in reducing the burden of both existing and projected cervical precancerous changes and cervical cancer. Issues to be examined include the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the vaccine for different age groups and for differing levels of screening provision and uptake.

The vaccine against HPV that is licensed for use within the European Union protects recipients against 4 types of HPV, including types 16 and 18 that cause 70% of cervical cancers and two other types that cause most genital warts. While it is 100% effective against types 16 and 18, there will remain at least 30% of women whose cancers will not be prevented with this vaccine.

As is being done in other jurisdictions, Ireland is now considering the potential role of HPV vaccination in addressing the problem of cervical cancer prevention. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has undertaken a scientific assessment of the public health value of HPV following a request from my Department. NIAC and the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS), agreed that this work needed to be complemented by a study of the cost effectiveness of the vaccine in the current Irish context. Accordingly, both organisations requested that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) undertake this study. When I have received the results of this work I will then be in a position to take the necessary policy decisions based on the best available national and international evidence. In the meantime, the NCSS is planning to roll-out the National Cervical Screening Programme on a national basis around the middle of this year.