Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 21 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 1

Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

101 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the recommendations made by the expert medical group which reported in 1982 on adverse reactions to the three-in-one vaccine (details supplied); the number of recommendations which have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5094/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

In response to concerns about an alleged link between the whooping cough component of the three-in-one vaccine and the occurrence of brain damage in children, an Expert Medical Group on Whooping Cough Vaccination was established in 1977 by the then Minister for Health "to examine persons who, it was claimed, had been permanently damaged by whooping cough vaccination, to review the medical information available in relation to them and to indicate whether, in its opinion, the damage was attributable to the vaccination."

The group was completely independent of the Department of Health in its operation and in the conclusions it reached. At the outset, it recognised that it would be impossible to prove conclusively in any case a cause and effect relationship between the vaccination and the person's disability. This finding is consistent with later international research undertaken on this issue.

Consequently, the group came to its conclusions on the balance of probability in individual cases. Where there was a reasonable doubt in any case, the group gave the benefit of the doubt to the person concerned.

The group found that in 16 of the 93 cases it examined, there was a reasonable probability that the vaccine was responsible for damage. An ex gratia payment was offered in each of these 16 cases.

Extensive international research has been conducted over many years regarding the possible link between the pertussis component of the DTP vaccine and chronic brain damage. It was known that in common with all other vaccines and therapeutic substances, adverse reactions to DTP occurred. Nevertheless it was considered in this country as in all other countries using the vaccine, that the benefits to children far outweighed the potential risks and helped protect them from the serious consequences of previously prevalent diseases. The identification and use of contraindications to the vaccine helped further to reduce any potential risk. In those children in whom DTP was contraindicated, it was recommended that they be given DT, that is, Diphtheria and Tetanus vaccination without the pertussis component.

The consensus of the international literature on this subject is best encapsulated in the following quotation from Paediatrics Vol. 97 No. 2. February 1996:

"The Academy* reaffirms its earlier conclusions that whole cell pertussis vaccine has not been proven to be a cause of brain damage and continues to recommend pertussis vaccination in accordance with the guidelines in the 1994 ‘Red Book'".

*American Academy of Paediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases

This view is confirmed in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland of the Royal College of Physicians which were published in 1996. The report advises "although there has been controversy about pertussis vaccine the consensus from authoritative bodies is that it is a safe vaccine".

The Expert Medical Group on Whooping Cough Vaccination did not make recommendations other than the findings in each individual case examined.