Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2008
142 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children her Department’s policy in relation to the provision of BCG vaccine to all babies; the advice she or her Department has given to the Health Service Executive in relation to the waiting list for the BCG vaccine for children in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32184/08]
View answerIreland's recommended immunisation programme is based on the guidelines of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. These guidelines are prepared with the assistance of an active committee from associated disciplines in paediatrics, infectious diseases, general practice and public health. As part of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme the NIAC recommends that the BCG vaccination is administered to newborn babies. It also recommends that a BCG booster is given at 10-14 years for those who are known to be tuberculin negative and who have had no previous BCG.
As arrangements for the roll-out of BCG vaccination clinics in Cork were being prepared in 2007, a difficulty emerged with the supply of vaccine in Ireland and across Europe in October. This issue has now been resolved and the supply of vaccine has again recommenced. However, the waiting list has significantly increased in the interim. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is working on the roll-out of its plan for the expansion of the BCG service and to address the waiting list. At present, the BCG vaccine is being offered to newborns who are at risk of developing TB, i.e., babies whose parents or siblings have a history of TB, whose parents work in a healthcare setting with patients affected by TB or whose parents come from countries where there is a high incidence of TB and children intending to visit high incidence countries for more than one month. BCG vaccine is also given to the child contacts of confirmed TB cases.
It is proposed to commence the neonatal BCG programme in the Cork region on Monday 13th October, 2008 in Cork University Hospital with clinics being held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Neonatal catch up clinics will be held in each appropriate Local Health Office for those missed in hospital and put on a priority list. A number of additional clinics have been held recently to address the community BCG waiting list and reduce the numbers.
