Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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571. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE is sponsoring a vaccination campaign for a vaccination against shingles; if so, if the vaccination is available on the medical card and or drug payment scheme; and if not, if he will consider adding it to those schemes. [42173/23]

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.

NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.

Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme. The vaccine is not available through the medical card or drug payment schemes. Further information is available here:www2.hse.ie/conditions/shingles/

Those aged 50 years and older who wish to receive the vaccine should consult with their GP or pharmacist.

It may be of interest to note that the Health Information and Quality Authority are currently carrying out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.

The outcome of the HTA, once it is complete, will inform future decision making on this matter in relation to whether or not any amendments are required to the National Immunisation Programme.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the HSE work continuously to monitor and improve patient safety, reduce incidents of harm and to minimise risk.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD and I received government approval in December 2020 to publish the Final Report of the Expert Group to review the law of torts and the current systems for the management of clinical negligence claims. Government noted the contents and recommendations of the Report.

Regarding a vaccine damage compensation scheme, during the pandemic, all available Department of Health resources were devoted to the Public Health response. This meant that work in this area could not be progressed. My Department is now actively pursuing the establishment of a Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme. However, further scoping work and detailed consideration is required to inform decision-making in this area.