Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Written Answers. - Hepatitis B Vaccinations.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

200 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress, if any, made to date in 1998 and the consideration, if any, being given to the introduction in this State of the universal hepatitis B vaccination programme which is required by the World Health Organisation. [15423/98]

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

201 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to introduce a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme for all infants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15477/98]

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

203 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the current approach to hepatitis B vaccination; the plans, if any, he has to continue the policy of selective vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15502/98]

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

204 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he has considered introducing the hepatitis B vaccine in view of the potential threat it poses to public health. [15497/98]

Pat Carey

Ceist:

215 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to implement the World Health Organisation recommendation to introduce a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme for all infants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14900/98]

Dan Neville

Ceist:

235 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to implement a World Health Organisation recommendation to introduce a universal hepatitis B vaccination programme for all infants. [15179/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 200, 201, 203, 204, 215 and 235 together.

The incidence and prevalence rates of hepatitis B in Ireland are amongst the lowest in the world. While the WHO has recommended the introduction of hepatitis B vaccination, several low-incidence countries, including Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries, have instead initiated a selective approach which targets high risk groups. It has been considered that this represents a more effective approach in situations where the incidence of the disease is low and where cases occur in identifiable population groups.

My Department's policy on this issue is guided by the advice of the immunisation advisory committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, whose guidelines recommend immunisation for individuals who are at increased risk of hepatitis B because of their occupation, lifestyle or other factors such as close contact with a case or carrier. The committee is currently reviewing its existing guidelines on immunisation, and future vaccination strategy for hepatitis B is among the issues which my Department's chief medical officer has asked the committee to consider in the course of its review.