Vol. 467 No. 3
68 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health whether there are World Health Organisation obligations on Ireland to introduce hepatitis A and B vaccine into the child immunisation programme as in is the case in other EU countries; and if so, the plans, if any, he has in this regard. [13111/96]
69 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health whether his Department will be offering the long-term hepatitis A vaccine free to all primary teachers in view of the recent outbreak of hepatitis A in schools. [13112/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together. There is no obligation on Ireland to introduce hepatitis A and B vaccine into the primary childhood immunisation programme. While the WHO has issued recommendations in relation to hepatitis B immunisation, a number of northern European countries where the incidence of hepatitis B is low, including Ireland, do not have plans to introduce this vaccine into their schedule at present. Hepatitis B vaccine is available to all high risk categories as recommended by the WHO.
In relation to hepatitis A, the WHO has not issued any recommendations in relation to its inclusion in primary childhood immunisation programmes. Immunisation is generally recommended for frequent travellers to areas of high or moderate prevalence, where there is an occupational risk of infection or where deemed appropriate in an outbreak of infection, for example, in an institution or school. In the latter circumstances, the vaccination of primary teachers against hepatitis A would be a matter in the first instance for the school's board of management in conjunction with the local health board.
