David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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963. To ask the Minister for Health if children have missed mandatory or routine vaccinations as a result of the pandemic; if so, the number of same; the steps he is taking to encourage and ensure uptake of these vaccinations; if he issued letters in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18310/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE National Immunisation Office is responsible for managing vaccine procurement and distribution, and developing training and communication materials for the public and health professionals. 

As the question raised by the Deputy is a matter for the National Immunisation Office, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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964. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure widespread uptake of the winter flu vaccine; the measures he has taken to date on same; if there will be a special information campaign to ensure minimisation of the burden the winter flu epidemic will have on the health system; the steps he plans to take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18311/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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An expansion to the seasonal influenza vaccine programme is planned for winter 2020/2021. Under the expansion, all of those in the at-risk groups aged from 6 months up, including healthcare workers, will be able to access the vaccination without charges.  All children aged from 2 to 12 years inclusive will also have access to vaccination without charges.

The expanded programme will ensure that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza will have access to vaccination without charges. By providing vaccination to those most at-risk, and those most likely to require hospitalisation if they contract influenza, the expansion aims to mitigate as much as possible the pressure on the health system which a coincidence of the winter flu season and a resurgence of COVID-19 would cause.

Work is currently underway to develop plans to operationalise this policy. The development of an extensive communications campaign to inform the public about the importance of this vaccination campaign and to encourage a high uptake rate of the vaccine will be a key element of this work.