Vol. 510 No. 5
32 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons who have died as a consequence of contracting meningitis in each of the past ten years; the plans, if any, he has to provide for universal childhood vaccination for meningitis C; and the Government's policy in this regard. [22805/99]
159 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons who have died as a consequence of contracting meningitis in each of the past ten years; the plans, if any, he has to provide for universal childhood vaccination for meningitis C; the Government's policy in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23035/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 159 together.
The number of persons who have died as a result of contracting bacterial meningitis in each of the last ten years is as follows:
198916
199016
199122
199232
199322
199429
199528
199615
199730
199823
A new conjugate vaccine to protect against group C meningococcal disease has been developed and is expected to confer prolonged protection against this strain of the disease.
Planning is currently under way for the incorporation of this vaccine into the primary childhood immunisation programme and for it to be given to older children and young people in a "catch-up" programme. It is important that the programme for delivering the vaccine is effective and well-organised and I have asked the health boards to take the lead role in planning such a programme which it is envisaged will cover persons up to the age of 21 years.
The vaccine can be introduced in this country only when the statutory licensing authority, the Irish Medicines Board, has granted the necessary authorisation. It is hoped that the vaccine will be licensed and available for use in Ireland in the early months of 2000.
