Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if it will be necessary to administer two doses of the H1N1 vaccine to the general population or if one will suffice; if one is enough, if she be able to take and pay for only the required amount of vaccine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41842/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Ireland has contracts with two manufacturers to provide 7.7 million doses of pandemic vaccine over a period of between 6 and 12 months. Both of these vaccines have now received a licence from the EU and all of the available medical evidence, both national and international, indicates that both are safe and suitable for this purpose. It is currently recommended that two separate doses are given but following the receipt of recent clinical data in relation to one of the vaccines (Pandemrix) we are now permitted to recommend that one dose will be adequate to give cover to everyone over 13 years of age except those who are immunocompromised. All children under 13 and those people who are immunocompromised will still require two doses of this vaccine. As a result of this recent development the Health Service Executive will examine the existing contracts to ascertain if any adjustments can be agreed and we are also looking at the possibility of offering any excess vaccine we might have to other countries that require vaccine.