Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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3258. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to putting in place a three year programme for shingles vaccination to be made available to people over 65 and/or immunocompromised people, given that the shingles vaccine is currently not available on a national immunisation programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44144/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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3259. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to the putting in place of a shingles vaccination programme to be made available to people over 65 and/or immunocompromised people, in view that shingles vaccination is recommended by NIAC those over 65 and/or the immunocompromised between 18-49; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44145/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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3260. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to the putting in place of a targeted shingles vaccination programme to be made available to people over 65 and/or immunocompromised people, in view that 13 countries in Europe have funded shingles vaccination programmes and Ireland is currently an outlier in Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44146/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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3261. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to the putting in place of a shingles vaccination programme to be made available to people over 65 and/or immunocompromised people, in view that there is an inequity issue in Ireland between those who can afford to buy vaccine for shingles privately and those who cannot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44147/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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3262. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to the putting in place of a targeted shingles vaccination programme to be made available to people over 65 and/or immunocompromised people, in order to reduce the instances of those who contract shingles being hospitalised, thus reducing the number of hospital/accident and emergency admissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44148/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3258, 3259, 3260, 3261 and 3262 together.

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice.

The current NIAC guidelines state that the shingles vaccine may be considered in those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease in this age group and in those aged 18 years and older at increased risk of shingles.

Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.

HIQA’s HTA examined the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule.

HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.

Whilst the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.

Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.

My Department considered the findings of this HTA and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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3263. To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date in respect of the implementation of the current National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommendations for older adult vaccination against influenza, pneumococcal disease, shingles, and respiratory syncytial virus, in view that a 2024 report commissioned by GSK Ireland, from the Office of Health Economics, estimated that full implementation of the recommendations would generate a return of up to €23 in socioeconomic benefit for every €1 invested by the State, and would also prevent approximately 375,000 cases of disease, 74,000 hospitalisations and 1,400 deaths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44149/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The National 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. NIAC make recommendations on vaccination policy to the Department of Health.

The National Influenza Vaccination Programme ensures that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza have access to the flu vaccine, free of charge. By providing vaccination to those most at risk, and those most likely to require admission to hospital should they contract influenza, the programme aims to prevent, as far as possible, the need for influenza-related hospital admissions, as well as to reduce the overall spread of influenza in the community. Free flu vaccination is available via the National Influenza Programme for those who are age 60 years and older.

The pneumococcal vaccine is also known as the pneumonia vaccine. It protects against pneumococcal disease which can lead to pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis. This vaccine is available for free, via GPs, for those who are 65 years or older. The consultation is free for those who have a medical card or GP visit card.

A Health Technology Assessment on RSV immunisation for infants and adults is currently being undertaken by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

The primary objective of this HTA is to provide advice to my Department to inform a policy decision on the most appropriate RSV immunisation strategy for infants and adults aged 65 and older. HIQA’s assessment will assess the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and budget impact of alternative strategies for the immunisation of infants and adults aged 65 years and older against RSV. This HTA will also consider the organisational, resource, ethical, patient and social implications associated with these alternative strategies.

A draft report will be made available in due course for public consultation prior to being finalised and submitted as advice to inform decision-making by my Department.

The outcome of the HTA will inform the development of any longer-term programme and future decision making on the matter of RSV immunisation in Ireland.

Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.

HIQA’s HTA examined the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule.

HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.

Whilst the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.

Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.

My Department considered the findings of this HTA and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable.