Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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881. To ask the Minister for Health the lessons that have been learned to date from the Laura Brennan HPV vaccination catch-up programme to inform its future development; whether there are any specific areas of improvement that have been identified to increase uptake rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37822/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are recommended 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 a preventative measure, 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.

The World Health Organisation has set a target for all countries to ensure that 90% of girls are vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years. In relation to uptake for the routine HPV vaccination programme, an uptake rate of 78.4% was recorded for the HPV vaccine in first year for 2022/2023).

In 2025, the HSE will run a pilot programme which will focus on improving the HPV vaccination rates among underserved communities, including Traveller, Roma and migrant groups living in Ireland. The pilot will provide access to targeted information and support that facilitates these groups to make an informed choice in relation to vaccination.

The Laura Brennan Catch-up programme ran from December 2022 to December 2023 and 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.

The HSE has advised that the implementation of the catch-up programme faced challenges due to multiple competing vaccination programme priorities and simultaneous demands on the same resources.

Increasing vaccination uptake rates in the routine HPV vaccination programme is vital in order for Ireland to achieve elimination of cervical cancer by its target date of 2040. 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.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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882. To ask the Minister for Health if, given that the HPV vaccine is currently available, free of charge, to gbMSM and people living with HIV attending public STI clinics, PrEP and HIV services, there is an intention under the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2025-2035 to make the HPV vaccine available to gbMSM through primary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37823/25]

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. 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.