Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 723 together.

NIAC has submitted advice to my Department which 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 noted that further analysis of cost effectiveness and programmatic considerations is required to determine the most appropriate use of RSV vaccination in Ireland.

Following consideration of NIAC's advice, my Department asked HIQA to carry out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) 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 request was revised in light of the recent RSV season and my Department requested that HIQA initially undertake a rapid HTA of immunisation against RSV in Ireland. This will be followed by a full HTA on immunisation against RSV in Ireland.

The outcome of these HTAs will inform the development of any RSV immunisation programme.