Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

404. To ask the Minister for Health if he will introduce a programme of immunisation against meningitis, given the statistics that one in ten persons will die from it and one in three survivors will be disabled and given that a meningitis vaccine programme has been rolled out in Northern Ireland since September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42466/15]

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

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). 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 and international best practice.

A vaccine against MenC is given to children at 4 months and 13 months of age as part of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule (PCIS). A booster dose is given to children in 1st year of second level school to protect against Meningococcal C disease until early adulthood.

NIAC has recommended that if the Meningococcal B vaccine can be made available at a cost-effective price, it should be included in the PCIS. The HSE Service Plan includes additional funding for the expansion of the PCIS in 2016, including the introduction of Meningococcal B vaccination. The HSE is engaging with the manufacturer to see to whether the manufacturer will agree to sell the vaccine at a cost-effective and sustainable price in Ireland. It is intended to introduce Meningococcal B vaccination into the PCIS in 2016 if agreement can be reached.