Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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152. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the content of an anti-vaccine propaganda film (details supplied); and the steps his Department will take to counter any inaccurate information regarding vaccinations that feature in this film. [14689/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Immunisation is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of health care interventions. The importance of immunisation is acknowledged by all the major international health organisations, particularly the World Health Organisation (WHO). The immunisation programmes in Ireland are 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. The Health Products Regulatory Authority and the European Medicines Agency continually monitor adverse events to vaccination. All relevant and appropriate information is taken into account when deciding to make changes to the State's immunisation programmes.

It is important to counter misinformation in relation to the safety of vaccines, and to increase the uptake rates of all vaccines in the State’s immunisation programmes. The safety of vaccines, as with all medicines, will continue to be carefully monitored and any future new evidence of side effects that becomes available will take into account. The benefits of vaccines significantly outweigh any known side effects.