Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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2164. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing a national gonorrhoea vaccination programme in Ireland, similar to the newly launched NHS England initiative which offers a world-first vaccine roll-out through sexual health clinics; if any assessment has been made by the HSE or NIAC regarding the applicability of this vaccine in an Irish public health context; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44924/25]

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 my Department.

NIAC revise recommendations on an ongoing basis to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland, to incorporate findings from horizon scanning and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. NIAC continuously monitor global developments in the field of immunisation. The immunisation schedule, therefore, continues to be amended over time based on emerging evidence.

I can advise that NIAC has considered the emerging evidence in relation to the off-label use of 4CMenB vaccine for the prevention of gonorrohea and submitted a recommendation to my Department which I have accepted. NIAC determined that there is insufficient evidence to recommend off-label use of 4CMenB for the prevention of gonorrhoea in high-risk groups. There are further clinical trials ongoing. NIAC will continue to review emerging evidence on epidemiology and vaccine efficacy through its horizon-scanning function and update its recommendations accordingly at a later date.