Vol. 529 No. 1
592 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will set up a coalition for immunisation with input from the public, patients and advocators of vaccinations which has been so effective in other countries. [1362/01]
My Department's immunisation policy is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
The primary childhood immunisation programme provides for the immunisation of children under the age of two years against a number of serious infectious diseases. The present arrangements were introduced in 1995 and involve general practitioners entering into a contract with their local health board for the delivery of the programme. Parents may have their children immunised free of charge by the doctor of their choice.
Operational responsibility for the primary childhood immunisation programme lies with the individual health boards, which have appropriate regional and local management structures in place. My Department also monitors the operation of the programme nationally and, as necessary, communicates with the health boards about issues which may arise from time to time.
At my request, the chief executive officers of the health boards are in the process of establishing a national immunisation steering committee which will address a range of issues relating to the primary childhood immunisation programme as a whole. This will include consideration of the protocols for administration of vaccines, whether new mechanisms need to be developed to guard against possible use of vaccine which has passed its expiry date and to ensure that vaccines are administered in accordance with best practice. This committee will also address the question of setting up a coalition on immunisation as outlined by the Deputy.
