Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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391. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for a catch-up programme of meningitis B vaccinations for children who had not received it prior to the roll-out of the current vaccination scheme; the estimated cost of such a catch-up programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41966/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Two changes were made to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule on 1 December 2016 with the introduction of Meningococcal B (Men B) and Rotavirus for all babies born on or after 1 October 2016. This means that all children born on or after 1st October 2016 automatically receive the vaccine. All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge.

There are no plans to introduce a catch-up programme for older children. No recommendation has been made concerning extension of the programme to other age groups.

The Men B immunisation programme makes Ireland the second country in Europe to make the vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.