Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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1225. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the current situation regarding the HPV vaccination programme and in particular catch-up clinics that specifically target males under 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63475/22]

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 my 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 have asked the HSE to facilitate and operationalise the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine Catch-Up Programme.

This programme offers a 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, are also eligible to receive the vaccine as part of the catch-up programme.

Eligible young people and their parents can register their interest in receiving the vaccine on www.hpv.ie  This link also contains detailed information about the HPV vaccine.