Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2011
137 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons and the number of girls aged ten to 18 years who have received the HPV vaccine since the start of August 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30321/11]
View answerData on the uptake of HPV vaccination for girls in first year and for those in the sixth year catch-up programme in the 2011/2012 academic year will not be available until the end of the school year. Early indications are that the uptake rate is approximately 80%.
138 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the level of information regarding the side effects of the HPV vaccine being provided to parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30322/11]
View answerAll parents/guardians receive a letter, information booklet and consent form prior to the HSE school teams' visit for the HPV vaccination programme. The booklet includes information on possible side effects. When devising the HPV booklet, the HSE consulted with a number of parents in advance of publication and this resulted in 90 percent of parents stating that they were happy with the information provided and said that it was sufficient for them to make an informed decision. All vaccine information leaflets are approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency.
The HSE also provides additional information sources at www.hpv.ie and www.immunisation.ie. This includes information translated into eight languages as well as more details on the safety and side effects of the vaccine. Individual queries can be sent to either website and these are replied to by doctors in the HSE National Immunisation Office within one working day. For those who do not have access to the internet and who require additional assurances and information, the letter to parents contains contact information for Local Immunisation Teams and details of the HSE Information line.
I am satisfied with the level of information being provided by the HSE about the HPV vaccine.
139 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the cost of administering the HPV vaccine; if there any commercial interests involved in the administration of the vaccine; the name of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30323/11]
View answerThe HSE has allocated €4 million annually for the HPV vaccination programme. This includes
Provision of three doses of HPV vaccine
Training for all school vaccination teams
Information materials and consent forms for parents/guardians.
There are two HPV vaccines licensed for use in Ireland — Gardasil manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur and Cervarix manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. The vaccines are not interchangeable so the HSE was required to purchase one vaccine for the HPV vaccination programme. Following a competitive tender under EU procurement rules, the HSE in 2010 secured a contract with Sanofi Pasteur MSD for the provision of Gardasil HPV for the programme. There are no commercial interests in the administration of the vaccine in the HSE programme.
