Vol. 502 No. 3
354 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if all hepatitis C patients, regardless of the way in which they contracted the disease, qualify for hepatitis A and B vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7955/99]
355 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of hepatitis C patients who received hepatitis A and B vaccinations at Beaumont hospital and St. Lukes hospital, Kilkenny, during 1998 and up to February 1999. [7956/99]
366 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the source and amount of funding for the hepatitis B vaccination programme; the number of people who have hepatitis C; and his Department's policy on this matter. [7986/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 354, 355 and 366 together.
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for health care personnel, certain patients and their family contacts, security and emergency services personnel who may be at high risk and susceptible members of high risk groups. The immunisation advisory committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland advised my Department in 1998 that vaccination against hepatitis A and B is also recommended for persons with hepatitis C. My Department advised the designated units in January 1999 to implement this recommendation in the treatment of hepatitis C patients. The recommendation is applicable to all patients suffering from hepatitis C, irrespective of how they may have contracted the disease. The cost of such immunisation is borne by the health agencies in which the patients are treated, from within their financial allocation from my Department.
My Department does not have precise information on the number of persons suffering from hepatitis C, which is not a separate infectious disease for notification purposes. The number of cases of viral hepatitis unspecified, under which cases of hepatitis C would be reported, notified to my Department for each of the last five years is as follows: 1994, 60; 1995, 66; 1996, 67; 1997, 122; 1998, 147 (provisional)
Approximately 1,600 people were infected with hepatitis C through the administration within the State of blood and blood products.
Beaumont Hospital and the South-Eastern Health Board have informed my Department that the number of hepatitis C patients who received vaccinations against hepatitis A and B in 1998 and up to February 1999 was as follows:
|
1998 |
1999 |
|
|
Beaumont Hospital |
49 |
nil |
|
St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny |
4 |
1 |
