Written Answers - Vaccination Programme.
John Gormley
Question:
36
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his plans to introduce either incentives or compulsory measures to ensure higher measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6739/03]
MMR vaccine is available under the primary childhood immunisation programme. It provides for the immunisation of children against a range of potentially serious infectious diseases. Parents may have their children immunised free of charge by the general practitioner of their choice. The schedule of immunisation is in accordance with the recommendations of the immunisation advisory committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
The health board chief executive officers established a national immunisation steering committee to address a wide range of issues relating to the childhood and other immunisation programmes, including the identification of issues that are hampering the achievement of uptake targets. The steering committee was assisted by four working groups which examined the following areas in relation to immunisation: communication, materials management, IT systems and planning and organisation.
On 22 April 2002 I launched the steering committee's report. It is the first step towards improving immunisation uptake and also enhancing and developing the key systems which underpin the immunisation programmes. In July 2002 a national immunisation implementation group was established. It is responsible for co-ordinating the planning and implementation of immunisation programmes in order to improve uptake and reports to the national steering committee.
In order to improve uptake I have made an additional €2.116 million available in 2003 in order to fund specific projects and measures which will improve immunisation uptake particularly in areas of low uptake. Health boards were requested to submit proposed projects-measures to the NIIG by the end of January. These proposals are currently being considered by health board-health authority chief executive officers.
There is concern among some parents in relation to the MMR vaccine. Negative coverage on this issue has added to the confusion of parents in deciding whether to vaccinate their children. In April 2002 I launched the MMR vaccine discussion pack – an information guide for health professionals and parents. It was produced by the national disease surveillance centre and the department of public health, Southern Health Board. It was published by the health boards executive on behalf of the health boards. The pack sets out the facts in relation to the most common concerns about the MMR in a way that will help health professionals and parents to explore these concerns together, review the evidence in relation to MMR and provide the basis for making an informed decision. The information is presented in such a way as to allow full discussion between health professionals and parents on each issue. The pack also contains an information leaflet for parents. The layout of the pack is in a question and answer format. It addresses such issues as the alleged link between MMR and autism and Crohn's disease, the safety and side effects of the vaccine, the purpose of a second dose of vaccine, combined vaccine versus single doses and contraindications to the vaccine. The pack will be of great assistance to health professionals and will enable them to respond to the very real concerns of parents.
At present I have no plans to introduce compulsory measures in relation to immunisation. However, I urge all parents to have their children immunised against the diseases covered by the childhood immunisation programme in order to ensure that both their children and the population generally have maximum protection against the disease concerned. This is particularly important at present in light of the increase in reported measles cases in the Eastern Regional Health Authority and Midland Health Board areas.
