John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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365. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for winter 2018 to increase the up-take of the 'flu vaccine across all categories of persons; and his further plans to promote awareness campaigns for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31778/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Every year the HSE hold their Winter Flu and Under the Weather campaigns which focus on reminding people to get their flu vaccination. In developing these campaigns the HSE reviews and updates its influenza plans, including its communications strategy, taking into account lessons learned from previous years and sets out to target key groups to get the greatest impact in terms of people receiving the influenza vaccine.  

As this question relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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366. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the next school term to increase the up-take of schoolgirls receiving the HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31779/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The main focus of the programme is to increase HPV uptake rates in girls. One of the most important things is to provide accurate and credible information to enable parents to make a fully informed decision concerning HPV vaccination.

Each year at the start of the school term the Health Service Executive runs an awareness campaign for parents which helps them access trusted sources of information to encourage them to get their daughters vaccinated with the HPV vaccine. 

The initial evidence suggests that this campaign is having a positive effect with provisional figures showing uptake rates have increased by 11% this year to 62%. 

As this question relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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367. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to roll out the HPV vaccine to boys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31780/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 484 together.

The current school immunisation programme offers HPV vaccination to all girls in their first year of second-level education. The Health Information and Quality Authority is currently undertaking a health technology assessment (HTA) on extending the school immunisation programme to include HPV vaccination to boys. This HTA will establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of providing HPV vaccination to boys and any decision will be informed by the evidence contained in the HTA which is expected in Q4 2018.  I have previously indicated that, subject to a favourable recommendation from the HTA, I will seek to extend this vaccine universally as a priority.