Brian O'Shea
Question:532 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he will take to ensure that there will be an adequate supply of pneumonia vaccine in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1079/01]
Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.
The purchase and supply of pneumococcal vaccine is an issue for each health board. The central purchasing office of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, who co-ordinates the purchase of vaccines on behalf of all health boards, has indicated to my Department that there is currently no supply difficulty in relation to pneumococcal vaccine and that there are stocks of the vaccine available. The office has indicated that it will shortly be putting a contract in place which will ensure that there will be adequate supplies of the vaccine available in 2001-02.
Brian O'Shea
Question:533 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the fee paid to general practitioners for administering the influenza vaccine to at risk medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1080/01]
Brian O'Shea
Question:534 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has for more clearly defining the at risk group for the influenza vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1081/01]
Brian O'Shea
Question:535 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the person or body which decides whether a person is in the at risk group for the purposes of receiving the influenza vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1082/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 533, 534 and 535 together.
My Department's immunisation policy is based on the advice of the national immunisation committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. The current guidelines from the national immunisation committee strongly recommend vaccination against influenza for persons aged 65 years or older and for adults and children (over six months) with any of the following conditions:
–chronic illness requiring regular medical follow-up (e.g. chronic respiratory disease, including cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, chronic heart disease, diabetes mellitus etc.);
–immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or splenic dysfunction;
–children and teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy (because of risk of Reyes Syndrome);
–residents of nursing homes, old peoples' homes, and other long stay facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection.
These guidelines have been circulated to general practitioners through the health boards. Influenza vaccine is available free of charge from general practitioners to medical card holders in the above at-risk groups.
The fee payable to general practitioners for administering the influenza vaccine to at-risk medical card holders is £21.94. Where the vaccine is given at the same time as the pneumococcal vaccine, a fee of £32.91 is paid for the administration of both vaccines. Where the patient in the at-risk group is not a medical card holder, there is no charge for the vaccine itself. The question of a fee for administering the vaccine is a matter between the general practitioner and the patient.