Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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822. To ask the Minister for Health whether the commitment in the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2025-2035 to expand access to existing vaccination programmes in "private settings" includes pharmacy-based vaccination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37479/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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823. To ask the Minister for Health whether the commitment in the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2025-2035 to prioritise increased free access to current and future vaccines protecting sexual health will include implementing the NIAC recommendation to provide the HPV vaccine to unvaccinated women under 45 years old who have been treated for CIN lesions, ideally within 48 months of treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37480/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 822 and 823 together.

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

The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-2035, and the National Sexual Health Action Plan, 2025-2028 commit to:

• Promoting the uptake of the HPV vaccine for young men and boys, as per the Programme for Government commitment;
• Prioritising increased free access to current and future vaccines protecting sexual health, through expanding existing programmes, increasing STI clinic capacity and through expanding free access in primary care, student health and private settings;
• Prioritising work to progress the development of the National Immunisation Information System (NIIS) that will enable uptake of mpox, HBV, HPV and other vaccinations to be measured systematically in key groups;
• Planning for similar equitable access and uptake monitoring for new vaccines, aligning with individual need and not the type of service attended;
• Considering the optimum strategic approach to emergency vaccination needs in the setting of new and emerging STIs, improving emergency response preparedness for vaccines;
• Supporting expanded vaccine uptake with targeted information campaigns.