Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.
Willie Penrose
Question:
142
Mr. Penrose
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the director of the National Disease Surveillance Centre that the incidence of measles among children is reaching such a point that a death may be expected; the steps being taken to deal with the threat of measles and particularly to encourage a greater uptake of the MMR vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27567/03]
Measles is a highly infectious and serious disease. Approximately one in 15 children who contract measles will suffer serious complications. The MMR vaccine protects against the disease and can be administered to children at 12 months of age. A vaccine uptake rate of 95% is required to protect children from measles and to stop the spread of the disease in the community.
I am concerned about the unsatisfactory MMR immunisation uptake rates in childhood immunisations because of the risk of unimmunised children contracting the potentially serious diseases concerned. The outbreak of measles in 2000, which resulted in three deaths and approximately 2,000 cases, is evidence of the consequences of insufficient immunisation uptake.
Based on information available from the NDSC, there has been a significant increase this year in the number of reported measles cases. Up to 8 November 2003, 570 cases were reported, compared with 191 cases in the same period in 2002. That underlines the importance of raising the immunisation uptake level to the optimal level of 95% against measles and the other potentially serious infections. Earlier this year, chief executive officers in all health boards and the ERHA were asked to ensure that specific immunisation measures be prioritised in all regions to prevent a serious measles outbreak. I am encouraged by the most recent statistics from the NDSC, which show that for the first quarter of 2003 there was an increase in the uptake level for most vaccines in the primary childhood immunisation programme, including that of MMR, which rose by 2% in that period.
The health board chief executive officers established a national immunisation steering committee to address a wide range of issues regarding the childhood and other immunisation programmes, including the identification of issues that are hampering the achievement of uptake targets. I launched the report of the steering committee in April 2002, and a national implementation group was subsequently established to draw up a phased national implementation plan based on the report's recommendations.
Following consideration of proposals submitted by the national implementation group through HeBE, on behalf of the health boards, regarding childhood immunisation, €2.116 million was allocated by my Department in 2003 to fund initiatives to improve the childhood immunisation uptake.
There is concern among some parents regarding the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine. Negative coverage on the 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. The pack was produced by the NDSC and the department of public health, Southern Health Board, and was published by HeBE on behalf of the health boards. The pack sets out the facts regarding the most common concerns about MMR in a way that will help health professionals and parents to explore those concerns together, review the evidence regarding 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 questions-and-answers format and 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 contra-indications to the vaccine. The pack will enable health professionals to respond to the very real concerns of parents.
In that regard, I am pleased to note the letter from Dr. Simon Murch of the Centre for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, who had originally questioned the safety of the MMR vaccine. In this month's edition ofThe Lancet he categorically supports use of the MMR vaccine and further states that “By any rational standards of risk/benefit calculation, it is an illogical and potentially dangerous mistake for parents to be prepared to take their children in a car on the motorway or in an aeroplane on holiday, but not to protect them with the MMR vaccine. An unprotected child is not only at personal danger, but represents a potential hazard to others, including unborn children”.
I again urge all parents to have their children immunised against the diseases covered by the childhood immunisation programme to ensure that both their children and the population generally have maximum protection against the diseases concerned. That is particularly important at present in light of the increase in reported measles cases.
