Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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96. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the recent advice given to older persons to take vitamin D daily; if such advice applies to other age groups; if, the supplement will be subsidised for at-risk groups in the context of public health and health promotion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41875/20]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Vitamin D is essential for bone and muscle health in people aged 65 and older. A recent Food Safety Authority of Ireland report found that older people do not get sufficient vitamin D from their diet or the effect of sunlight on their skin. To help counteract this, the Department of Health recommends that people aged 65 and older take a vitamin D supplement every day to ensure that they get the essential amount of vitamin D they need.

The recommended daily amount of vitamin D supplement is 15 micrograms.  This can be taken as a multi-vitamin supplement, a calcium and vitamin D supplement or a vitamin D only supplement.

Older people who are currently taking a vitamin D supplement that has been prescribed by a doctor or nurse and that contains more than 15 micrograms can continue to take the supplement prescribed.

Vitamin D supplements are available for medical card holders under the Primary Care Reimbursement Service.

Vitamin D supplements are also recommended for infants who are breastfed up to 1 year of age and for 1 to 4 year old children in the extended winter months, from Halloween to St Patrick’s Day.

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