Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to address the fall in the take up of the human papilloma virus, HPV, vaccine; the estimated number of deaths annually from cervical cancer that would result from a halving of the uptake of the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38013/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against two high risk types of HPV (16 & 18) that cause 73% of all cervical cancers. Vaccinated women and girls will still be at risk from other high risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and will therefore need to continue to have regular cervical smear tests. NIAC recommended that the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine be given to all girls aged 12-13 in 2009 and in September 2010 the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in first year of second level schools. It is estimated that HPV vaccination will eventually save 60 lives annually in this country.

By January 2016, over 200 million doses of Gardasil had been distributed worldwide. In Ireland over 580,000 doses of Gardasil have been administered and over 220,000 girls have been fully vaccinated against HPV since it was introduced in 2010.

Negative publicity and misinformation is affecting the uptake of the vaccine. We must ensure that people understand that the vaccine is safe and can save lives.

Since early this year The HSE are working with other stakeholders to counteract negative publicity and misinformation about the vaccine. The Irish Cancer Society held two public meetings in Galway and Cork. These are two areas where uptake rates of the vaccine had reduced significantly. These meetings included talks by renowned international HPV cancer expert, Professor Margaret Stanley, cervical cancer survivors and hospital consultants.

The parents of girls in first year of second level school have been given a revised information leaflet, consent form and contact phone numbers for their local immunisation office. Any queries they have concerning the vaccine can be addressed by the school immunisation team prior to vaccination day. In addition girls, who may have declined the first dose of vaccine, will get an opportunity to receive this when the school immunisation team revisits the school.

Information about the vaccine and its benefits has been circulated to all school principals, management bodies, National Parents Councils and GPs. The HSE have also met with the Department of Education and school management bodies.

In addition, prior to the start of the 2016/2017 school immunisation programme there was a coordinated local and national media campaign involving the Irish Cancer Society, HSE Communications and the National Cancer Screening Programmes. It is intended that the promotion of HPV vaccine as a safe and effective vaccine will continue and the HSE plans to commence focus groups with parents in the near future.

These actions should address the concerns of many parents and encourage their daughters to receive this important cancer preventing vaccine.