Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

585 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children administered with out of date polio vaccine in each health board area; the number of children re-vaccinated in each health board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1942/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The following table sets out the number of oral polio vaccine doses, based on the latest information received from the health boards, which were administered after the expiry date.

Health Board	Number of doses administered less than one month after expiry date	Number of doses administered greater than one month after expiry date	Total
ERHA*		2,742(1)	2,742
MHB	748	724(2)	1,472
MWHB	991	722(2)	1,713
NEHB	132	33(3)	165
NWHB	130	168(2)	298
SEHB	1,294	610(2)	1,904
SHB	2,680	209(2)	2,889
WHB*		1,840(1)	2,742

*Information in relation to the number of doses less than one month after the expiry date was not provided as these children do not need re-vaccination.

(1) Refers to period December 1995 – December 2000.

(2) Refers to period January 1998 – December 2000.

(3) Refers to period January 1998 – June 1999.

All health boards are currently in contact with GPs in an effort to obtain the most up-to-date information in relation to the number of children re-vaccinated. My Department has asked the health boards to expedite this matter and to provide the information as soon as possible. This information will be provided to the Deputy as soon as it is received.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

586 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the specific funding allocated in 2001 to each health board to establish a database for vaccinations administered to children; the funding allocated to each board in 2002 for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1943/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The maintenance and operation of an appropriate database for the various immunisation programmes is a matter for the individual health boards and health authority concerned. Specific funding is provided in respect of the childhood immunisation programme to each health board and health authority, who in turn determine how this funding should be utilised in their region. In 2001 an additional sum of 1.27 million, or £1 million, was provided to the health boards in respect of the childhood immunisation programme, and a further additional sum of 2.445 million has been provided in respect of this programme in the current year.

The immunisation information systems currently in place in each health board and health authority were recently examined as part of the national immunisation steering committee review which was set up to address a wide range of issues relating to the childhood and other immunisation programmes including the identification of issues that are hampering the achievement of uptake targets. The committee established working groups to address specific aspects of the immunisation programme. The terms of reference of the IT working group were to review current and future IT systems requirements for the optimum management and delivery of all immunisation and vaccination programmes, with a view to initiating the development of a common IT system to be operated in all health boards. The report of the committee is at final draft stage and is expected to be submitted to my Department shortly.