Bernard Allen
Ceist:248 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce a national immunisation programme for school children against meningitis C. [22253/99]
Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.
A new conjugate vaccine to protect against group C meningococcal disease has been developed and is expected to confer prolonged protection against this strain of the disease.
Planning is currently under way for the incorporation of this vaccine into the primary childhood immunisation programme and for it to be given to older children and young people in a catch-up programme. It is important that the programme for delivering the vaccine is effective and well organised and I have asked the health boards to take the lead role in planning such a programme, which, it is envisaged, will cover persons up to the age of 21 years.
The vaccine can be introduced in this country only when the statutory licensing authority, the Irish Medicines Board, has granted the necessary authorisation. It is hoped that the vaccine will be licensed and available for use in Ireland in the early months of 2000.