Roger T. Garland
Question:117 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Health if he intends to investigate the number of the 58 meningitis victims in the State who died who had received the MMR vaccine before death.
Written Answers. - MMR Vaccine.
Cases of meningitis are notifiable to the local health board, who in turn notify my Department, under the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1981.
In 1991, 237 cases of meningitis were notified to my Department of which 154 were bacterial meningitis. During the same period 12 people died from bacterial meningitis. In relation to these deaths reports are submitted to my Department's medical officers on the circumstances surrounding each individual case.
There are no reports of deaths from viral meningitis which is the condition which has been identified in relation to particular MMR vaccines in a recent UK study. These vaccines are no longer in use in this country.