Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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1251. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the inclusion of the shingles vaccine in his Department's policy decision following the health technology assessment recently carried out by HIQA on the herpes zoster vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45127/24]

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.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1252. To ask the Minister for Health if provision has been made within the recent Budget announcement for women who are required to take hormone blocking medication such as zoladex and letrozole as part of their cancer treatment, in the same manner that provision has been made for women to receive free HRT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45128/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2025, I was able to secure a €20 million allocation for the introduction of a state-funded Hormone Replacement Therapy measure for women experiencing symptoms of menopause. This measure will come into effect in January 2025 and will mean that where a women has received a prescription for HRT for the treatment of her menopause symptoms by her healthcare provider, the State will meet the cost of those medications or products. This will cover medications and products on the HSE Reimbursement List.

At present, the current provision is for free HRT products for the treatment of menopause symptoms as this is the most commonly used treatment for managing menopausal symptoms and has shown to be the most effective intervention.

It is important to acknowledge that there are women who are contraindicated for the use of HRT in treating their menopause symptoms, and there are women who choose not to take HRT in some instances. In these cases, it is important to discuss options with a GP, or in some cases an oncologist, to decide the best course of action for the treatment of these symptoms.

Some women experiencing more complex symptoms, including those who are contraindicated for the use of HRT, may be referred to one of our Specialist Menopause Clinics for continued care free of charge.