Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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501. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which recommendations from the NIAC on immunisations are interpreted by his Department; the role the Immunisation Policy Team have in both implementing them and ensuring we are procuring the right vaccines where possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56154/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National 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, international best practice in relation to immunisation as well as evidence based analysis and expert medical advice.

The NIAC makes recommendations on immunisation matters to the Department of Health. These recommendations are first considered by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) following which the CMO will make a recommendation to the Minister. After deliberation, the Minister will make a determination which will take the form of a policy decision.

In advance of any change in policy, the Minister can request that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carry out an evaluation of the impacts of potential policy changes. HIQA has a statutory remit, under the Health Act 2007, to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, providing advice to the Minister for Health and to the Health Service Executive (HSE) on budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues.

These evaluations take the form of Health Technology Assessments (HTAs). A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner. The use of the HTA facility assists decision makers in assessing the merits and potential shortcomings of a new health technology, policy or service based on accurate and reliable evidence. The outcome of the HTA will be considered by the Minister in coming to a decision in relation to any changes to the National Immunisation Programme.

As the matter of any vaccine procurement process is an operational matter for which the National Immunisation Office has responsibility, I have asked the HSE to answer the Deputy directly on this aspect.