Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the full rollout of the H1N1 vaccine will take up to eight months; the length of time the vaccine programme in schools will take; if she is satisfied that all possible measures are being taken to ensure that patients in hospitals do not contract the virus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45555/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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It is envisaged that the H1N1 Pandemic vaccination programme will continue into the first quarter of 2010 at least. The duration of the programme will be determined by the uptake rates within the targeted groups.

To date over 1.3 million doses of vaccine have been distributed to general practitioners, Mass Vaccination Clinics and Hospitals.

Those initially targeted by the HSE are those aged 6 months to under 65 years with medical conditions that place them at increased risk of developing influenza, healthcare workers, children aged 5 months to 18 years and those aged 65 years and over.

The School Vaccination Programme commenced on 30th November 2009 initially targeting larger schools. The School Vaccination Programme will continue into early 2010.

The Influenza Like Illness (ILI) rates have continued to fall over recent weeks now standing at 93.6 per 100,000. The numbers of confirmed H1N1 cases who were hospitalised and admitted to ICU are also decreasing.

Enhanced surveillance and infection control measures are in place to ensure that patients in hospital do not contract H1N1.