Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1260. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure greater take up of the HPV vaccine, including a review of the current information campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28247/23]

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

The Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-up Programme was launched on 8th December 2022. The programme offers 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. In addition, young women, up to the age of 25, who have now left secondary school, and who did not receive the vaccine when at school, are eligible to receive the vaccine as part of the catch-up programme.

Since the commencement of the catch-up programme an extensive information campaign has been underway utilizing both national and Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) specific communications strategies. In addition, the HSE undertake an information campaign every year for parents and guardians of those in first year of secondary school who are eligible for the routine HPV vaccination programme.

More information can be found at the following links:

www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/schoolprog/hpv/hpv-vaccination-programme/

www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/schoolprog/hpv/