Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1274. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe to move the HPV programme from a two-dose programme to a single dose programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63639/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this PQ relates to an operational issue, it has been referred to the HSE for answer.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1275. To ask the Minister for Health the way that it is intended to monitor the HPV programme for effectiveness in view of the intention to move the HPV programme from a two-dose programme to a single dose programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63640/22]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1276. To ask the Minister for Health when the HPV programme will be reviewed for clinical effectiveness in view of the intention to move the HPV programme from a two-dose programme to a single dose programme; if it is intended to return to a two-dose programme should this prove negative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63641/22]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1278. To ask the Minister for Health the way that the move of the HPV programme from a two-dose programme to a single dose programme may affect the target date for the elimination of cervical cancer in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63643/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1275, 1276 and 1278 together.

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 National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has updated their advice about the number of HPV vaccine doses young people need to receive.  The NIAC advise that people with healthy immune systems now only need one dose of HPV vaccine.

Recent scientific evidence did not show a big difference in the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in people with healthy immune systems, aged 9 to 24 years, who received one, two or three doses of the HPV vaccine.

My Department has asked the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to consider the clinical effectiveness of moving from a two dose to a one dose regimen. It is important to note that any surveillance programme needs to be operational for some time before data can be used to assess clinical effectiveness.

Ireland is committed to the global effort to virtually eliminate cervical cancer in the decades ahead and much progress is being made. In Ireland we are in a strong position to meet the global targets set by the World Health Organisation through developments in our HPV vaccination, cervical screening and cancer treatment services.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1277. To ask the Minister for Health the way that is it intended to reach the 90% coverage rate for the HPV vaccine given that NIAC has advised that this is essential for an effective single-dose programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63642/22]

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.

The NIAC has updated their advice about the number of HPV vaccine doses young people need to receive stating that people with healthy immune systems now only need one dose of HPV vaccine.

The reason for this change is that recent scientific evidence did not show a big difference in the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in people with healthy immune systems, aged 9 to 24 years, who received one, two or three doses of the HPV vaccine.

The HSE continue to provide communications support and vaccine opportunities to strive to reach an uptake of 90% for the HPV vaccine for those in first year of second level education.

Furthermore, in line with the NIAC's advice, I have asked the HSE to facilitate and operationalise the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination 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.ieThis link also contains detailed information about the HPV vaccine.