Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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390. To ask the Minister for Health if a decision was made by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, NIAC, in respect of sanctioning of the meningitis B vaccine; if so, when it will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5477/15]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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418. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to include a vaccine for meningitis B into the national immunisation scheme; the contact there has been between his Department, the Health Service Executive and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5670/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 418 together.

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice, international best practice, and a cost effective analysis conducted by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.

NIAC has issued guidance in relation to the use of the Meningitis B vaccine in the control of clusters or outbreaks of Meningococcal B disease.

My Department has recently received a letter from the Chairman of NIAC regarding the introduction of the Meningitis B vaccine into the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule. This matter will be considered by my Department.