Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects the H1N1 vaccination programme to be delivered to the general population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39280/09]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the legal protection which is in place for general practitioners that are being asked to decide which of their patients should be prioritised for the H1N1 vaccine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39287/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the categories of staff that will administer the H1N1 vaccine to the general population; if they will be replaced in their regular role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39281/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on the deployment of the H1N1 vaccine; and the systems that are in place to ensure that all those at risk receive the vaccine in a timely and efficient manner. [39270/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 124, 136 and 152 together.

The incidence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported on 25th October last is at a rate of 210.9 per 100,000 population. This is the highest ILI rate reported since sentinel influenza surveillance began in 2000.

Vaccination is a key strategy that is being used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Every person in the country will be offered the vaccine. However, initially the vaccine is arriving in small quantities due to the demand for the vaccine worldwide. Ireland is not unique in the difficulties which we have been experiencing in sourcing the vaccine in the quantities which we would require. Obviously, therefore, vaccination will be prioritised to ensure those who require it most will be first to receive it. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee and the Pandemic Influenza Expert Group have advised that the vaccine should be given to the population in the following order of priority:

People with long term medical conditions aged between 6 months and 65 years and all pregnant women of more than 14 weeks gestation and for women six weeks post partum, i.e. the "clinically at risk" groups;

Health Care Workers;

Children between 6 months and 18 years of age;

Adults over 65 years of age;

The rest of the population.

It is generally agreed that the preferred option for the administration of the pandemic vaccine to people under 65 in the "clinically at risk" groups is through general practice. GPs hold their medical records and are in a position to identify patients with underlying medical conditions for vaccination. It is estimated that there are approximately 410,000 people in this category. GPs have been receiving vaccine over the last two weeks and many patients have already been vaccinated. However, not all GPs are in a position to participate in the vaccination programme and the HSE has set up special vaccination clinics in order to vaccinate the "clinically at risk" patients of such GPs.

A full list of the locations and opening times of these clinics has been provided via the national and local media and is also available on the swine flu website at www.swineflu.ie. A typical HSE vaccination clinic will comprise at least 1 doctor, 6 nurses and appropriate support staff. It will have the capacity to vaccinate up to 500 people a day but the numbers actually vaccinated at these clinics will clearly depend on the demand from the public for this service.

Staff being assigned to the vaccination clinics will not be replaced and the vaccination programme will, therefore, mean that some other services have to be delayed or curtailed. The HSE has drawn up plans to prioritise services during the period of the vaccination programme but the actual impact on particular services will only become clear as the programme is rolled out. The intention is to start vaccinating other priority groups, like health care workers and children, as soon as possible. However, depending on uptake, vaccine supplies and other factors, it could take 6 to 8 months to vaccinate the entire population.

With regard to legal protection for general practitioners the HSE has asked GPs to make their best effort to identify the relevant patients and the insurance companies involved in providing cover for GPs have indicated that this would be seen as normal GP work and that the existing cover is sufficient.

The House will appreciate that this pandemic is one of the biggest public health challenges which this country has faced. The logistics of undertaking such a mass vaccination programme are challenging. I am confident, however, that the extensive preparation plans which we have in place will assist in meeting this challenge.