Róisín Shortall
Question:157. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand access to the HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48338/17]
View answerWednesday, 15 November 2017
Questions (157)
Written answers
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice and international best practice. All relevant and appropriate information is taken into account when deciding to make changes to the State's immunisation programmes.
NIAC has made a recommendation that the HPV vaccine should be given to boys. My Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to carry out a health technology assessment (HTA). The Board of HIQA approved the initiation of the HTA in March 2017 to examine the extension of the current HPV immunisation programme to include boys. Work has commenced on the HTA, which will include a complex model to simulate disease transmission. Any decision concerning the extension of the programme will be informed by the results of the HTA. It would be inappropriate for me to speculate about the outcome of the HTA and any consequent decisions.