Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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520. To ask the Minister for Health if he will give consideration to the extension of the human papillomavirus immunisation programme in secondary schools to boys in recognition of the threat HPV-related cancers and diseases pose to males as well as females; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20784/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In Ireland the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) makes recommendations on vaccination policy. Their recommendations are based on the epidemiology of the disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.

The HPV vaccine protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in 1st year of secondary school. The uptake of HPV vaccine in girls of over 80% is providing an element of, what is known as, herd immunity for boys. There is also evidence that the current vaccines do not provide the level of protection against head and neck cancers that had been originally forecast. This indicates that a universal HPV programme for boys would not be cost effective at this time.

However, My Department has requested the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to carry out a Health Technology Assessment on this proposal, and any new recommendations will be considered.