Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of the existing RSV immunisation programme; the age groups recommended by NIAC-HIQA; and the additional annual cost of expanding the RSV immunisation programme to all babies aged one year and under. [43298/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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An infant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunisation Pathfinder Programme will run between September 2024 and February 2025. All newborn infants born during the programme will be offered immunisation against RSV after birth on site in Irish maternity hospitals. This immunisation will protect newborn infants when they are most vulnerable to the complications of RSV during the winter period when infection rates are at their highest.

As well as protecting newborn infants, this programme will help maintain health service capacity during this coming winter season. The programme is based on NIAC advice and is a temporary programme put in place as an interim measure pending the outcome of a Health Technology Assessment on RSV immunisation for infants and adults currently being undertaken by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

The outcome of the HTA, and learnings from the pathfinder programme once complete, will inform the development of any longer-term programme and future decision making on the matter of RSV immunisation in Ireland.

The NIAC advice in relation to RSV immunisation is as follows:

• Use of nirsevimab for all infants born during the 2024/25 RSV season. NIAC advised that infants should receive nirsevimab ideally prior to discharge home from a maternity hospital.
• The passive immunisation with nirsevimab of the following groups: all high-risk infants aged ≤12 months at the start of their first RSV season and all infants who are aged ≤6 months at the start of the RSV season should receive nirsevimab prior to the start of the RSV season.