Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 2

Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.

Bernard Allen

Question:

122 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take regarding the introduction of a campaign to provide a booster of low dose diphtheria and tetanus vaccine for teenagers on leaving school in view of the recent increased outbreaks of diphtheria and tetanus in eastern Europe and in view of the recent publication of the Immunisation Guidelines For Ireland 1999 by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee. [7370/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

My Department has requested the health boards to implement the changes to the schedule of immunisations to be administered to children of school going age, recently recommended by the immunisation advisory committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Funding has been provided to the health boards to meet the additional vaccine costs involved, which include the cost of introducing a Td, tetanus and low-dose diphtheria toxoid, booster at school leaving age.