Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 4

Written Answers. - Measles Vaccination Programme.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

73 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of measles reported in the Eastern Health Board area in 1992 and to date in 1993; the response there has been to the recent advertisement campaign aimed at increasing vaccination levels; the steps, if any, that are being taken to settle the dispute involving members of the IMO who have now notified him that they are withdrawing from vaccination schemes from 1 January 1994, in view of the serious implications that this move would have for the health of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The number of cases of measles reported to my Department by the Eastern Health Board is as follows:

Year	Number of cases reported
1992	84
1993	2,595
(to 10 December 1993)

During the months of June, July and August 1993, the number of cases reported peaked and since then the number of cases has decreased dramatically.

I am not happy with the present uptake of the MMR vaccination programme. As the Deputy is aware I have recently established a working group under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer of my Department to review the existing arrangements for the delivery of vaccinations and measles immunisations and to make recommendation on how these can be improved. This group includes representatives from my Department, the Health Boards, the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Irish Society of Medical Officers of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation and is expected to report very early in the New Year.

I have been informed that the IMO has deferred its threat to withdraw from the immunisation programme from 1 January 1994. The Department is in touch with the health boards at present to assess the increased level of uptake of vaccinations following the recent advertisement campaign.