Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1072. To ask the Minister for Health if the shingles vaccine will be provided free of charge to a person (details supplied) at high risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44219/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme but it is open to any individual who is aged 50 years and older and who wishes to receive the vaccine to consult with their GP or pharmacist.

The shingles vaccine is not available through the medical card or drug payment schemes.

The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the national immunisation programme are chosen by NIAC in order to give each individual the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) recently carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including 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.

HIQA published the HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the schedule is not cost effective and is associated with a substantial budget impact. My Department has considered its findings and determined that the introduction of the vaccine can be reconsidered when cost effectiveness is more favourable.