Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

766. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30597/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In Ireland the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) which comprises experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics, public health make recommendation on vaccination policy in Ireland. Their recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. NIAC guidance is regularly updated and the latest updates including details of local and general adverse events to each vaccine are available on the HSE website.

All vaccines provided by the HSE on the recommendation of NIAC to protect the public from disease are licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). No vaccine is or will be licensed by the HPRA and the EMA unless it is has been approved as safe by the Licensing Authority.

Most proven reactions to vaccines are mild and self limiting. Commonly the child may experience pain and tenderness at the injection site where the vaccine has been injected into a muscle. These symptoms are generally mild and transient resolving completely in 2 to 3 days. A fever may also develop after a vaccination. These reactions are not allergic reactions.

Local urticarial (hives) reactions are uncommon and these reactions are also transient and self limiting.

Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) after vaccination are extremely rare, occurring at a rate of 1 or less after every million vaccinations. No international expert body such as the World Health Organisation, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and NIAC recommends testing a child for allergies before receiving a vaccine.