John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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958. To ask the Minister for Health if he is monitoring the issues being raised abroad over the use of Gardasil; if his attention has been drawn to the 400 victims in Colombia preparing to take a case against a company (details supplied); if he has examined compensation programmes put in place in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35875/17]

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 and the importance of vaccination is acknowledged by all the major international health organisations. The World Health Organisation estimates that up to 3 million lives are saved each year as a result of vaccination and the scientific evidence is clear that benefits of vaccines outweigh the known side effects

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising 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. All relevant and appropriate information is taken into account when deciding to make changes to the State's immunisation programmes.

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.

In relation to compensation programmes, my Department is considering how to implement the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment, which encompasses consideration of the implementation of the recommendations of the Vaccine Damage Steering Group.