Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Health if, in the course of the next HPV campaign, the most modern and effective vaccines will be used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41527/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.

There are only three licensed HPV vaccines available in Ireland. HPV2 protects against strains 2 of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancers, HPV4 protects against 4 strains of HPV so it protects against 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts, and HPV9 which protects against 9 strains of HPV and so can provide protection against 90% of cervical cancers, other genital cancers and 90% of genital warts.

The gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme for boys and girls in their first year of secondary school, which commenced in September, uses the HPV9 vaccine.

My Department will continue to be guided by the NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence on this issue in the future.