Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1140. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 531 of 11 April 2017, the position regarding the work being undertaken by the Health Service Executive to put in place clinical care pathways appropriate to the differing medical needs of some children that may require access to specialist services, in view of claims of an association between HPV vaccination and a number of medical conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37961/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of claims of an association between HPV vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women . An illness that occurs around the time a vaccine is given and is already known to be common in adolescence does not imply the vaccine caused the problem. It appears that some girls first suffered symptoms around the time they received the HPV vaccine, and understandably some parents have connected the vaccine to their daughter’s condition. It is important to reassure people that anyone who is suffering ill health is eligible to seek medical attention, and to access appropriate health and social care services, irrespective of the cause of their symptoms. As there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine causes long term illnesses, the HPV vaccine cannot be held responsible for these illnesses.

As the development of a clinical care pathways for children who require access to specialist services is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.