Vol. 490 No. 4
12 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the further consideration, if any, he has given to the provision of a national hepatitis B vaccination programme in view of recent information from the viral reference laboratory which shows a 30 per cent increase of hepatitis B in blood samples tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10145/98]
58 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children the further consideration, if any, he has given to the provision of a national hepatitis B vaccination programme in view of recent information from the viral reference laboratory which shows a 30 per cent increase of hepatitis B in blood samples tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10146/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 58 together.
In July 1997 the chief medical officer of my Department requested the Royal College of Physicians to re-establish the national immunisation committee and where necessary update the recommendations contained in its document "Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland" produced in 1996. The membership of the committee includes a wide range of experts in the field of immunisation including a representative from my Department. Among the matters to be addressed is the most appropriate strategy for scheduling of hepatitis B vaccination. The committee has not yet completed its deliberations. I have arranged for the information provided by the virus reference laboratory to be brought to the committee's attention through my Department's representative on the committee.
