Bernard Allen
Ceist:244 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the ongoing dispute between his Department and the IMO on the flu vaccination campaign. [22248/99]
Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.
Deirdre Clune
Ceist:266 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Office for Health Gain recently launched an advertising campaign promoting flu vaccination at a time when his Department is in dispute with general practitioners over flu vaccination; the efforts, if any, being made to resolve this dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22462/99]
Seamus Kirk
Ceist:281 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Health and Children if medical card holders are entitled to have the flu vaccination administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22646/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 266 and 281 together.
Discussions have been held between the Health Service Employers' Agency and the Irish Medical Organisation in relation to this issue. At a meeting on 7 October the Health Service Employers' Agency, recognising that there are issues between the parties regarding administration of the influenza vaccine and in order to resolve this dispute without delay, proposed that the issues be referred to an independent third party for adjudication. This offer was declined by the Irish Medical Organisation.
I welcome the statement by the IMO that, notwithstanding the dispute regarding administration of the influenza vaccine, it has advised its members to provide the vaccine to the at-risk groups in the GMS free of charge.
The Office for Health Gain decided that it was appropriate that there should be an advertising campaign again this year to inform the public about the availability of the influenza vaccine and the advisability of those in at-risk groups receiving it. I understand that the Irish Medical Organisation also supported the running of such a campaign.
I remain hopeful that it will be possible to reach agreement on this issue and I would hope that the Irish Medical Organisation would reconsider the offer made by the Health Service Employers' Agency of referral of the issues in dispute to an independent third party.