asked the Minister for Health if he will implement plans to introduce a national plan for the immunisation of all children incorporating a combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccination and the issuing of an agreed national immunisation record card to all parents, which recommendations are among the main proposals for a national strategy on immunisation recommended by the Irish College of General Practitioners in a report (details supplied).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Strategy on Immunisation.
9.
My Department have an established national programme on immunisation and vaccination. The programme includes diptheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis and rubella immunisations. These immunisations are free of charge from public health clinics. The latest development in the programme was the introduction in October 1985 of measles immunisation.
The introduction of a combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccination is under consideration. However, the current uptake of measles immunisation is 55 per cent of the target population which is lower than the uptake of rubella which is 75 per cent of the target population. Therefore, one element in the assessment of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the possible adverse affect on rubella cover of introducing measles-mumps-rubella vaccine before an increase in the uptake of measles immunisation is achieved. I have recently urged health boards to make a concentrated effort to boost the uptake of measles immunisation.
With regard to a national immunisation record card, a working group representative of the Faculty of Paediatrics, the College of General Practitioners and the Health Promotion Unit of my Department, have developed a Child Health Record Booklet. This booklet includes an immunisation and vaccination record and is now being piloted in Community Care Areas 1 and 2 of the Eastern Health Board, in conjunction with the National Maternity Hospital and a sample of general practitioners.