Jan O'Sullivan
Question:37 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of take-up for the MMR vaccine; if he has satisfied himself with the level of take-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19214/01]
Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.
Operational responsibility for delivery of the primary childhood immunisation programme, including MMR, lies with the individual health boards. My Department also monitors the operation of the programme nationally. I am advised by the National Disease Surveillance Centre that immunisation uptake rates in respect of the MMR vaccine for the years 1999 and 2000 are 77% and 79% respectively.
While I welcome the increase in uptake in 2000 over 1999, I am concerned that MMR uptake still falls short of the target of 95% which is required to provide herd immunity in the population. Additional funding was provided in 2001 to the health boards to develop strategies to address the uptake problems in the primary childhood immunisation programme on a national basis.
In addition, the chief executive officers of the health boards have established a National Immunisation Steering Committee which is addressing a wide range of issues relating to the childhood and other immunisation programmes. This includes the identification of issues which are hampering the achievement of uptake targets.
Concerns have been expressed about an alleged link between the MMR vaccine and the development of certain conditions or disorders. I would like to reiterate that my Department has reviewed the available evidence and is satisfied that the MMR vaccine is a very safe and effective one. There is no evidence to support any link between the MMR vaccine and the subsequent development either of chronic inflammatory bowel disease or of autism and studies published in the UK and Europe have further confirmed this. Neither is there evidence that giving each of the component vaccines separately has any greater benefit than the combined vaccine. Parents should discuss with their general practitioner any concerns they may have before making a decision about their child's immunisation.
I take this opportunity to urge all parents to immunise their children. This will ensure that individual children and the population generally have maximum protection against the diseases concerned.