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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

537 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the conclusions drawn from a report (details supplied) on Tribovax T received by his Department at the end of July, 2001; when he intends to publish this report; if his Department has been in contact with the company since it received this report; if so, the information obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21930/01]

The report concerned relates to allegations made in the Irish Independent on 28 and 29 June last that Irish children had been administered the animal vaccine Tribovax T instead of the human vaccine, Trivax, during the early 1970s.

Following the publication of these allegations in theIrish Independent, I requested a full investigation into the matters raised. On foot of this request, a preliminary report from GlaxoSmithKline was submitted to my Department in early July and a further report was received from the company at the end of July. Senior representatives from GlaxoSmithKline recently met with my officials to discuss the company's final report which concludes that GSK does not believe it possible that Tribovax T was administered in error to any child in the early 1970s and that a simple recording error is the most likely explanation. A copy of the company's report has been issued to the Deputy with this reply.
Notwithstanding the fact that the alleged administration of the animal vaccine took place almost 30 years ago and the difficulties this has caused in terms of investigating the issue, officials in my Department have satisfied themselves that, on the basis of all currently available information, the most likely explanation is that the health professionals involved at the time may have made simple handwritten errors in transcribing the lot number from the vaccine vial to the individual vaccine record cards. Having separately considered these issues, this is also the view of the Irish Medicines Board and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. On the basis of this advice, I am satisfied that the relevant agencies and the company concerned have been as thorough as possible in their investigations and that the conclusion that a simple transcription error may have taken place is credible and is indeed the most probable explanation under the circumstances.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

538 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if the whole-cell pertussis vaccine for whooping cough is administered in Ireland; if so, the health boards which are administering this vaccine; the last known date when this vaccine was administered in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21931/01]

On 1 October 1996, acting on advice from the Immunisation Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, my Department wrote to the health boards advising them of the introduction of a DTaP vaccine containing acellular pertussis into the childhood immunisation programme. This was to replace the existing diphtheria, tetanus and whole-cell pertussis vaccine which had been in use up to then. My Department has written to the health boards asking them to confirm that on receipt of the Department's advice, the use of whole-cell pertussis vaccine ceased and was replaced by the acellular product. I will communicate again with the Deputy when all of the health board's responses have been received.

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