Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE has plans to extend the free meningitis B vaccination or provide financial support for the vaccination in respect of children born before 1 October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13607/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The 2016 HSE Service Plan included additional funding for the expansion of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule. Two changes were made to the schedule with the introduction of Meningococcal B (Men B) and Rotavirus immunisation for all babies born on or after 1 October, 2016. As the first doses of these vaccines are administered to children when they reach two months, these changes took effect from 1 December, 2016. There are no plans at this stage to introduce a catch-up programme for older children. Those who have a medical card are eligible to have the vaccine administered by their GP free of charge. However the purchase of the vaccine is not covered by the medical card scheme.

All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. Ireland is the second country in Europe to make the Men B vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.