Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.

Dick Spring

Question:

160 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the progress of the meningitis C immunisation programme; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the IMO that general practitioners were being placed in an impossible position by legal advice from the office for health gain that a general practitioner cannot refuse to immunise young people outside of the phase one target group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24541/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I have been informed by the health boards that the immunisation campaign to protect against group C meningococcal disease is progressing well. General practitioners are providing the vaccine to the under five age-group and health board teams are undertaking vaccination of 15 to 18 year olds in post-primary schools. Vaccination of third level students is also proceeding. There is no difficulty in relation to vaccine supply. While it is too early to establish the precise level of uptake being achieved, preliminary indications are that uptake is good.

The objective of the phasing of the programme is to ensure that resources are directed initially at those most vulnerable to infection, that is, babies and children aged 0-4 years and young people aged 15-18 years. In response to inquiries, the office for health gain obtained legal advice on how family doctors should deal with any cases where they were asked to vaccinate children outside the initial priority groups. The health boards were informed by the office for health gain of the advice received. This matter is an operational one for the office for health gain and the health boards in the first instance. I understand from the office for health gain that the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish College of General Practitioners have responded positively to the initiative taken in this regard.