Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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659. To ask the Minister for Health the current uptake rate of the flu vaccine for under 12s; his plans to encourage increased vaccination in this age group; his further plans to extend the nasal vaccine to a wider age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39746/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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This season, the Government is expanding the provision of vaccination without charge to all of those in the at-risk groups, including healthcare workers, and to all children aged from 2 to 12 years.

The HSE has procured 600,000 doses of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV), which is delivered via nasal drops rather than by injection and is being made available to all children aged from 2 to 12 years old inclusive. Children outside this age group in an at-risk category will also be eligible for vaccination without charges.

Latest figures (to 24 November) show that over 133,000 claims have been received for vaccines administered to children aged from 2 – 12. This is the first year that children are eligible for vaccination without charge.

The HSE has undertaken a substantial media campaign to promote the vaccine, and will continue to do so. GPs and pharmacists have requested 450,000 doses of vaccine to date, and the HSE continues to receive orders although at a slower rate. There is a natural lag between administration of the vaccine and the receipt of claims, so it is to be expected that the uptake numbers will continue to climb.

The number of claims received to date equates to an uptake of approximately 20%. While the uptake among children is not yet at the level hoped for, there remains a month in the current vaccination season, and the HSE will be redoubling efforts to deliver the message that the vaccination is free, and protects not only the children vaccinated but the wider community as well.

Should the uptake remain relatively low, the HSE and the Department of Health are open to examining the possibility of expanding the use of the vaccine to older children. However, no decisions in relation to this have yet been taken.