Vol. 378 No. 6
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to, and if he has any plans to discontinue the practice whereby directors of community care employed by health boards are paid directly by the public for vaccination services prior to travelling abroad.
263.
asked the Minister for Health the number of people who were vaccinated before travelling abroad by the health boards in 1985, 1986 and 1987.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 263 together. Under the International Health Regulations, 1969, national health administrations are required to designate vaccination centres for yellow fever vaccinations.
With regard to other vaccinations which travellers may require, e.g. typhoid and cholera, there is no requirement under the regulations for a vaccination centre to be designated and these may be provided by any medical practitioner or at the designated centres. Vaccines are not supplied by the boards but must be purchased privately. A fee is charged for this service by the administering doctor.
There is no requirement for the vaccinating doctor to inform the Department of the number of such vaccinations carried out. I have, however, asked each health board to report to me on the current arrangements for providing these vaccinations including arrangements for charges and the number of vaccinations carried out. I will forward this information to the Deputy when I have received it.
