asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned about the increasing number of children at risk due to the decline in immunisation against measles; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Measles Immunisation.
6.
asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned at the low up-take of measles vaccine; and the plans he has to ensure a better response to the current campaign to eradicate this disease.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 16 together. Free immunisation against measles was introduced at the beginning of October. It is too early to assess the overall response. While in a number of areas an up-take of 50 per cent and more has already been achieved, other areas have been slower to respond.
My Department are in regular contact with each health board about the progress of the scheme and arrangements will be made as indicated by local circumstances, for example by supplementation of general practitioner coverage by public clinics, if it is considered that this will be more productive.
Will the Minister say why the current PR campaign was introduced?
For the very simple reason that successive Ministers for Health over a decade had planned to introduce it. Most of them were not long enough in office to do anything about it. I convinced the Government that we should spend £1 million on immunisation this year and I am sure that in ten years' time, when there will be a drop in mental and physical handicap as these children reach child-bearing age, it will be regarded as having been worth while expenditure in relation to public health.
Would the Minister accept the suggestion that it was introduced because there had been quite an alarming drop in the number of immunisations during the past 18 months or so?
There has always been a difficulty about immunisation. Deputy O'Hanlon and I have encouraged parents to have their children immunised. The take-up rate so far is very good and I would hope to get it up to 60 or 70 per cent. All of the returns have not yet been received.
Will the Minister extend the two-month period which is due to expire at the end of this month in regard to the measles vaccinations? I endorse what he said about my support for that scheme. Is he satisfied that the community care departments have proper statistics of the children who should be immunised? Will it ever be possible to find out exactly what percentage of the children who should be immunised are actually immunised, having regard to the fact that children who have had measles in the past do not need immunisation?
I will certainly consider the question of an extension but it will have to be in consultation with the general practitioners and their representative organisation. The returns have been patchy. For example, in Clare there is an 83 per cent take-up but in one area in Dublin is it 11 per cent. It varies considerably through the country. The returns we have are accurate but whether we have all the returns is another question. I will take considerable care in checking the data. The results in some areas have been very heartening — Kerry, 51 per cent; Clare, 83 per cent; Longford-Westmeath, 74 per cent; Waterford, 23 per cent.
I would remind the Minister that there are 20 more questions to go.
I would also indicate my support for the immunisation campaign, although I have some criticisms about the way it is being done. Is the Minister satisfied that the promotional campaign is reaching the people in general? I am aware of criticism that the television advertisements are not getting the message across, that it is going over the heads of many people. Is it intended to review this promotional programme?
We have been urging the directors of community care to renew their efforts to achieve a better take-up. We have asked them to look at a number of ideas employed by their colleagues in other areas. We had considerable difficulty in planning the publicity because it was the first time it was being done. The HEB will be reporting to me on the response to the television advertisements and the other publicity material issued. We are dependent to a considerable extent on the GPs because they are the people in direct contact with the public. We have also decided to supplement by having special public clinics in areas where there has been less than the average take-up. The Deputy might let me know if he feels there are any gaps. I should be glad to discuss the matter with him.
There are 50 questions balloted for oral answer. Question No. 7.