John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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777. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on her plans to promote uptake of the HPV vaccine, specifically amongst young men and boys; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33780/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.

The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are selected, where possible, in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. The HPV vaccine is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. The HPV vaccine is currently offered, free of charge, to boys and girls in first year of secondary school and is administered through the School Immunisation Programme. It is critical that the HPV vaccine is administered early and before any likely exposure to HPV.

For the 2024/2025 academic year the HSE encouraged parents to check their child’s school bag for the immunisation consent pack for HPV, Tdap and MenACWY vaccines as part of a social media campaign which also highlighted the importance of each vaccine and shared information about the diseases these vaccines prevent. The HSE will continue to encourage all eligible people to get their vaccines on time and will continue to share facts about the importance of HPV vaccine for both males and females on www.hpv.ie.

My Department will continue to be guided by NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence in this area.