Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together.

NIAC has submitted advice to my Department for consideration. It advises that RSV vaccines which have recently received EMA authorisation, for infants and persons over 65yrs, are safe and effective and should be considered for use in Ireland. In its advice NIAC also noted that further analysis of cost effectiveness and programmatic considerations is required to determine the most appropriate use of RSV vaccination in Ireland.

In line with this, my Department has asked HIQA to include a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in their workplan to determine firstly, whether infant or adult vaccination would provide the greatest benefit in reducing healthcare utilisation due to RSV infection, and secondly, what the most cost-effective RSV immunisation strategy for Ireland would be.

The outcome of this HTA will determine whether or not a change to the National Immunisation Programme will be required.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 342, 343 and 344 together.

Covid-19, influenza and pneumonia vaccines are currently available to certain groups of adults, who are most vulnerable to a severe outcome from these diseases, as part of the adult immunisation programme.

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice.

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.

Once a recommendation from NIAC has been received and considered by the Chief Medical Officer of my Department, a request can be made to HIQA to carry out a Health Technology Assessment. This assessment looks at the evidence of the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine. The assessment also looks at the value for money, cost, organisational, social and ethical issues of providing a new vaccine.

At present HIQA is carrying out two HTAs. The first is on the shingles vaccine and the second HTA is on an enhanced flu vaccine for those aged 65 years and older. The outcome of these HTAs will inform a decision in relation to whether or not these vaccines are included in the programme.

Additional information in relation to the current adult vaccination programme is available from the HSE website at www.hse.ie