John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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253. To ask the Minister for Health the progress of the HPV vaccination catch-up programme extension review; to provide a timeline by which a decision will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41865/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme commenced on 8 December 2022 with the opening of the HSE’s online registration portal for the programme.

In 2023, the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme offered free HPV vaccines to:

• females who are 24 years of age or younger

• males who are 21 years of age or younger

I can confirm that the HSE and my Department continue to work together to review available options in relation to provision of HPV immunisation in the future.

With the aim of moving towards cervical cancer elimination in the coming years, it will be important to focus on increasing vaccination uptake rates in the routine HPV vaccination programme. As you will be aware the ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases.

As the HPV vaccine is preventative, it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage and protection. It is vital that, moving forward, the importance of receiving HPV vaccination when it is offered through the routine HPV vaccination programme is communicated effectively to the population and that there is no confusion over the optimum time to receive the vaccine.