asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the report of the medical experts on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon regarding whooping cough vaccination.
Written Answers. - Whooping Cough Vaccination.
396.
I hope to communicate the results of the group's findings to the parents of the person concerned in the near future.
397.
asked the Minister for Health the guidelines, if any, that were issued by his Department regarding contrary indications to whooping cough vaccine; when these were issued; if he will supply copies of them; to whom the guidelines were circulated; and how they were published.
The Royal College of Physicians in Ireland issued specific guidelines regarding contrary indications to whooping cough vaccine on 9 November 1983. These guidelines are currently being transmitted by the Health Education Bureau to the health boards and to medical practitioners throughout the country. I will arrange to let the Deputy have a copy of these guidelines.
Although definitive guidelines of this kind were not produced before this, nonetheless, since 1974, in the course of a number of meetings with directors of community care and medical officers of health and by circular to the health boards, my Department have emphasised the need for vaccinating doctors to have regard to current knowledge about contrary indications. This precaution, of course, has always been a general principle where the administration of any vaccination or immunisation is concerned.