asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that members of the families of soldiers who served in the Congo have had to be vaccinated; and if he will take whatever steps are at his disposal to ensure that these persons will not be at the loss of income if they should become ill as a result of these injections.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vaccination of Families of Congo Soldiers.
4.
Arrangements were recently made to offer vaccination against smallpox to the immediate contacts of soldiers returning from the Congo. The immediate reason for doing so was to afford protection against infection to the persons directly concerned and to safeguard those with whom their business and other activities might bring them into contact. The service was offered on a strictly voluntary basis and, though all were advised to avail of it, no one was compelled to do so. Indisposition is a normal risk of vaccination and the question of special compensation for loss of income, additional to any benefits payable under the Social Welfare Code, would not ordinarily arise.
Would the Minister consider appealing to private employers to ensure that employees over whom they have direct control will be enabled to maintain the incomes they would normally earn if they were at work?
That would introduce a principle never so far established in relation to these measures for the protection of persons against infectious diseases, and I could not possibly think of that.