Vol. 437 No. 6
528 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to introduce any penalties for those responsible for the delivery of health care in local areas, where insufficient levels of immunisation of children against measles are achieved in the area in question, in view of the fact that such penalties exist under the British NHS and have helped achieve a higher immunisation rate than is found here.
I have indicated on a number of occasions that there is room for improvement in the uptake of childhood vaccinations and in particular MMR. In November 1993, I established a working group under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer of my Department to review the existing arrangements for the delivery of vaccinations and to advise on options to improve the present uptake of immunisation. I expect their report very shortly and at this stage would not like to preempt any of their recommendations. The question of increasing the uptake of the primary immunisation will also be dealt with in the forthcoming National Health Strategy.
