Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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702.To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his Department's request to HIQA to carry out a health technology assessment examining the cost benefits of an enhanced vaccine for the over-65s; when the formal consultation with interested stakeholders will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24750/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Influenza Vaccination Programme ensures that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza have access to the flu vaccine, free of charge. By providing vaccination to those most at risk, and those most likely to require admission to hospital should they contract influenza, the programme aims to prevent, as far as possible, the need for influenza-related hospital admissions, as well as to reduce the overall spread of influenza in the community.

As part of the National Influenza Vaccination Programme, the flu vaccine is available to those aged 65 and over and individuals in specified at-risk groups.

To inform decision making in relation to the current Influenza Vaccination Programme, my Department requested that HIQA carry out a Health technology assessment (HTA) in relation to vaccination with an enhanced quadrivalent influenza vaccine for those aged 65 and older.

A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology to provide information regarding 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 to inform policy decision making.

HIQA is currently holding a public consultation which is open until 11 July 2024 on its draft health technology assessment (HTA) on the use of an enhanced inactivated influenza vaccine in those aged 65 years and older, as part of the HSE’s Influenza Vaccination Programme.

Following the closure of the public consultation, HIQA will assess the feedback received in order to inform its final report. The report will then be presented to the HIQA Board and following approval, the report will then be provided as advice to my Department to inform a decision on whether enhanced influenza vaccines (instead of standard influenza vaccines) should be funded as part of the HSE Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme for those aged 65 years and older.