Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Health his views on reports that some persons that receive the HPV Gardasil vaccine are reporting serious side effects; his further views on the number of girls withdrawing from the vaccine programme; and if he will commission a study into these reported cases [26109/17]

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 that cause 73% of all cervical cancers.

There is scientific evidence of the beneficial impact of HPV vaccine for women's health in countries that have had high vaccine uptake rates. Cases of high grade pre-cancerous changes of the cervix have reduced by 75% in Australia and by more than 50% in Denmark and Scotland.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is responsible for monitoring the safety and quality of all medicines that are licensed in Ireland. While no medicine is entirely without risk, the safety of vaccines, as with all medicines, is carefully monitored and any new evidence concerning side-effects is taken into account. The HPRA and the European Medicines Agency continually monitor adverse events to vaccination.

Unfounded, false claims have been made of an association between HPV vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women. It appears that they first suffered symptoms around the time they received the HPV vaccine and a false connection is being made between the HPV vaccine and the onset of these symptoms. There is no scientific evidence that the HPV vaccine causes any long term illness. The misinformation around the HPV vaccine has led to a significant drop in uptake rates of the HPV vaccine. The Irish Cancer Society state that, based on national cancer statistics, the drop in the rate of uptake to 50% for the 2016-2017 academic year will have the following alarming consequences:

- The death of at least 40 girls with cervical cancer who did not receive the HPV vaccine;

- A further 100 girls will develop cervical cancer and will require life altering treatment; and

- An additional 1000 girls will require invasive therapy to prevent the precancerous form of HPV.

Misinformation is causing real harm to those unvaccinated children and adults who develop vaccine preventable diseases, and to people who seek inappropriate treatments for real conditions that are not caused by vaccines. Any parent who has doubts or questions about vaccination should talk to their family doctor, or alternatively to visit the National Immunisation office website. These sources of information are clear and accurate and will answer any queries you may have about the benefits or risks of vaccination. Vaccination is the best way for parents to make sure their children are healthy and protected from preventable diseases.

I have no plans to commission a study along the lines suggested in the Parliamentary Question as the safety and efficacy of these vaccines continues to be monitored by regulatory agencies at both national and European level.