Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1626. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the prevention of tuberculosis in Ireland with specific regard to the roll-out of the BCG vaccine which appears to have stalled since 2015-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1126/22]
View answer1695. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his position on the BCG vaccine given that no child has been vaccinated against TB in Ireland since 2015; and his plans in relation to same going forward (details supplied). [1346/22]
View answer1815. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health when the National Immunisation Advisory Committee will report its recommendations regarding BCG immunisation. [1932/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1626, 1695 and 1815 together.
The HSE was requested, in 2019, to undertake an updated review of the epidemiology of TB in Ireland, considering the public health impact of having no BCG vaccination since April 2015. The review was completed and the National TB Advisory Committee (NTBAC) met to consider its findings on 16 December 2019.
My Department has been informed that the view of the Committee was that universal BCG vaccination should not be implemented at that time. The Committee agreed that the decision on whether a selective BCG vaccination programme targeting at risk groups or no BCG vaccination programme should be recommended, was outside the scope of the NTBAC and should be considered by the NIAC.
The NIAC has been asked to make recommendations to the HSE about the BCG immunisation programme. However, as the NIAC has been fully engaged in matters relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not been in a position to complete this work as yet. Once completed, NIAC will submit its recommendation to the Department which will guide the future provision of BCG vaccination in Ireland.
