Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health if she will extend the HPV vaccination catch-up programme to include additional year groups under the age of 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16262/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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.

Approximately 11,000 people received HPV vaccination through this programme.

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

In 2025, the HSE will run a pilot programme which will aim to support Ireland’s effort to eliminate cervical cancer by improving the HPV vaccination rates among underserved communities, including Traveller, Roma and migrant groups living in Ireland. The pilot will seek to address the need of underserved communities to access HPV vaccination in the community and to provide access to targeted information and support that facilitates them to make an informed choice in relation to vaccination. Learnings from this pilot will be evaluated and inform the HPV vaccination programme.

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. To eliminate cervical cancer, all countries must aim to ensure that 90% of girls are vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years.

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.

As there are competing vaccination priorities and demand on resources is high, it is critical that any resources available are directed to where they can best be utilised to produce maximum clinical impact.