Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1122. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a HPV vaccine is provided to a person (details supplied). [54969/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection.

Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage.

In October 2021, my Department asked the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to consider the clinical effectiveness of providing the HPV vaccine to:

- girls and boys in secondary school who were eligible to receive HPV vaccine in 1st year but who did not receive it; and

- women up to the age of 25 years who have left secondary school and who did not receive the vaccine when eligible.

The NIAC submitted advices in relation to the HPV Vaccination Programme to the Department which noted that HPV vaccination should be prioritised for unvaccinated second level students and females under the age of 25 years.

In line with the NIAC's advice, I asked the HSE to facilitate and operationalise the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine Catch-Up Programme.

This programme, which is expected to launch in mid-November 2022, will offer free HPV vaccines to all boys and girls in second level education who were previously eligible to receive the HPV vaccine and who have not yet, for whatever reason, received it.

Young women, up to the age of 25, who have now left secondary school, and who did not receive the vaccine, will also be eligible to receive the vaccine as part of the catch-up programme.

Further details on the campaign and how eligible people can register their interest will be made available in due course.

In addition to the announcement of the catch up programme, NIAC have issued new recommendations in relation to HPV vaccine dosage.  The advice is available at the following link: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/chapter10.pdf

It is recommended that you consult with your General Practitioner in relation to this advice.