Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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2880. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people who have participated in the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme to date; the targets set for the programme; and to provide an update on the plans for a programme extension review. [42563/25]

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

A schools-based HPV catch up programme will be put in place in 2026. This will provide students who had previously been offered a HPV vaccine another opportunity to receive the vaccine. It is important that children of school going age are vaccinated before they become sexually active. 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.

All options are being explored to identify a suitable delivery model for those aged under 25 who have left school.

In addition, this year, 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.