Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2021
221. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if the National Immunisation Advisory Committee advised against the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23501/21]
View answerAll vaccines administered through the School Immunisation Programme, including the HPV vaccine, are provided free of charge.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases.
As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes sexually active, that is, before a person is first exposed to HPV infection.
Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in their first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage.
My Department will continue to be guided by the NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence on this issue in the future.
