Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Health if he intends to make it mandatory for health professionals to provide parents with a manufacturer's patient information leaflet prior to parents giving consent for any vaccine programme for children being run by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38762/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Consent must always be obtained before immunisation. The person providing consent should be offered as much information as they reasonably need to make their decision. Guidelines indicate that the individual should be provided with the following information in order to give informed consent:

· the nature of the treatment - what vaccines will be administered and against which disease they provide protection

· what are the benefits and risks of immunisation and the risks of disease(s)

· what are the possible side effects of immunisation, when might they occur and how should they be treated

· alternatives to vaccination.