Written answers

Thursday, 16 February 2017

Department of Health

Vaccination Programme

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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243. To ask the Minister for Health if a vaccination that was introduced into the infant vaccination programme on 1 December 2016 and backdated for infants born after 1 October 2016 will be backdated further (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7945/17]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Service Plan included additional funding of €2.5 million for the expansion of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule in 2016. Two changes were made to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule with the introduction of Men B and Rotavirus for all babies born on or after 1 October, 2016. As the first doses of these vaccines are administered to children when they reach two months, the changes to the immunisation schedule took effect from 1 December, 2016. All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. Ireland is the second country in Europe to make the vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee makes recommendations in relation to “at risk groups” but not all of these are included in the current immunisation schedule. The introduction of the vaccine to the childhood immunisation programmes means that all children born on or after 1 October 2016, including those in "at risk groups", will automatically receive the vaccine. However, there are no plans at this stage to introduce a catch-up programme for older children. Those who have a medical card are eligible to have the vaccine administered by their GP free of charge. However the purchase of the vaccine is not covered by the medical card scheme.

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