Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 2

Written Answers. - Three-In-One Vaccination.

Robert Molloy

Question:

105 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Health the reason the parents of children who sought redress for the ill-effects suffered by their offspring following three-in-one vaccination between the years 1969 and 1973 were never given the right to appeal against the refusal of the Dr. Brendan O'Donnell Committee to grant them compensation for the devastating mental and physical effects suffered; if he will grant these parents the right to appeal or establish a public inquiry to highlight the injustice in these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4533/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The expert medical group on whooping cough vaccination was established in 1977 by the Minister for Health “to examine persons who, it was claimed, had been permanently damaged by whooping cough vaccination, to review the medical information available in relation to them and to indicate whether, in its opinion, the damage was attributable to the vaccination”.

Of the 93 cases presented to the group, the group found that there was a reasonable probability that the vaccine was responsible for damage in 16 of the cases. Where there was a reasonable doubt in any case, the group gave the benefit of that doubt to that person. It is, therefore, incorrect to imply that the group refused to award compensation where damage had in fact been caused by the vaccination.

Where parents were dissatisfied with the findings of the expert medical group arrangements were made for the parents to meet the chairman of the expert group to discuss on an individual basis individual reports and how the group had reached its conclusions. The parents who availed of this offer were told that if new evidence was available, which was not considered by the group, the group would re-examine their case. In the period since the group completed its work no new evidence has been produced.