Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to identify the persons that are at risk of suffering from side effects due to the chronic stimulation of their immune system through the gardasil HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3751/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Vaccination is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of all health care interventions. It is also one of the most effective ways a parent can protect the health of their child. Ireland’s childhood immunisation programmes have had a huge impact in improving the health of the Irish population. Diseases that used to be common in this country and around the world such as polio, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough and many other serious infectious diseases are now preventable by vaccination.

Most people will get a HPV infection during their lifetime and most of these infections will not require further treatment. However, in some women, HPV infections can cause changes in the cervix that can develop into cervical cancer. Every year in Ireland about 300 women get cervical cancer and 90 women will die from it. Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer in women aged between 25 to 39 years of age. Worldwide cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2012 there were over 500,000 new cases and over 250,000 deaths.

The HPV vaccine protects against certain HPV types which causes 7 out of 10 cervical cancers. Therefore most cervical cancers can be prevented by the vaccine. This is the message that we want parents to hear. Although HPV covers 7 out of 10 cervical cancers it is still very important for women to have regular smear tests to detect cancers caused by HPV types not covered by the vaccine.

Unfounded claims have been made of an association between HPV vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women - there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine causes long term illnesses. 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.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority and the European Medicines Agency continually monitor adverse events to vaccination. HPV is one of the most closely studied and monitored medicinal products. The vast majority of reports received by the HPRA have been consistent with the expected pattern of short term adverse side effects for the vaccine, as described in the product information. These are usually mild and temporary reactions to any kind of vaccination.

The misinformation concerning the HPV vaccine appears to be having an impact - uptake rates have fallen from 87% in 2014/15 to 51% in 2016/17. 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 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.

I would urge any parent who has doubts or questions about vaccination to engage with your family doctor, or alternatively to visit the HPV website – www.hpv.ie. These sources of information are clear and accurate and will answer any queries you may have.