David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she or the Health Service Executive has carried out a detailed cost analysis before making the decision to provide the HPV vaccine through schools and special HSE clinics as opposed to making it available through general practitioner network or primary care centres; the cost of staffing and location of the HSE clinics who provide the HPV vaccine to girls in July 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31453/10]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the HPV vaccine will not be provided to girls free through the general practitioner network when this network is used to provide smear tests through the national cervical screening programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31454/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) undertook 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 the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a study into the cost effectiveness of HPV. HIQA undertook an assessment of the cost effectiveness of HPV vaccination and recommended it. NIAC reviewed the HIQA report and concluded that HPV vaccine does have the potential to play an important long term role in the prevention of cervical cancer and that a vaccination programme should be put in place to enable these long term benefits to be realised.

In August 2008, the Health Service Executive (HSE) was requested by my Department to examine operational and procurement issues relating to the introduction of a HPV vaccination programme for 12 year old girls on a basis that would achieve maximum cost effectiveness and appropriate national uptake rates.

In January of this year, I announced the commencement of a national public HPV vaccination programme for girls who are currently in first year in secondary school. I asked the HSE to integrate this programme where possible into the existing school vaccination programme nationally. The vaccination schedule requires three doses of the vaccination to be given over the course of a six month period. Evidence from other countries (UK and Australia) has shown that the highest uptake rates are achieved when HPV vaccine is administered in schools (3rd dose uptakes of over 80% versus less than 65% for GP administration). I am satisfied in the circumstances that the policy of delivering the vaccination programme mainly in school settings is the most appropriate one.

The cost of staffing and location of HSE clinics for the 21 schools taking part in the commencement programme is a service matter for the HSE. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to this aspect of the Deputy's question.