Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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802. To ask the Minister for Health the steps which were taken to advise parents of children born in 2016 prior to 30 September that the HSE was embarking on the vaccination programme for newborns for meningitis B which commenced in October 2016 in order that they would be in a position to vaccinate their children following this advice; if he will make the vaccination programme available to parents of infant children born prior to October 2016 that wished to avail of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19255/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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. The HSE implemented an information campaign aimed at parents of children born on or after that date. The promotional pack given to mothers in maternity hospitals was updated to include an article on the new immunisation schedule. A comprehensive suite of English and Irish information materials for parents including booklet, leaflet, tear pads, immunisation passports, magnets, posters was sent to all CHOs and maternity hospitals. They have been distributed to parents in maternity hospitals and as part of first PHN visit since 1 October 2016. This was two months before the first doses of these vaccines were administered to children on 1 December 2016. Comprehensive information is available on the HSE National Immunisation Office website (www.immunisation.ie). 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.