Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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632. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a vaccination programme for children born before 1 October 2016 to receive meningitis B and rotavirus immunisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12137/17]

Simon 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. However, there are no plans at this stage to introduce a catch-up programme for older children. Ireland is the second country in Europe to make the vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.