Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
52 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will consider a voluntary proposal that all children at crèches and starting school be appropriately vaccinated for their age. [26223/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary childhood immunisation programme, PCIP, provides for the immunisation of children against a range of potentially serious infectious diseases. The objective of the PCIP is to achieve an uptake level of 95% which is the rate required to provide population immunity and to protect children and the population generally from the potentially serious diseases concerned. The PCIP provides for the immunisation of children up to two years of age. Under the PCIP parents may have their children immunised free of charge by the general practitioner of their choice. The schedule of immunisation is in accordance with the recommendations of the national immunisation advisory committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. The schedule was most recently revised in October 2002.
The recommended childhood immunisation schedule is as follows:
|
Age |
Immunisation |
|
Birth-1 month |
BCG |
|
2 months |
DTaP/IPV/Hib (“5 in 1”) and MenC |
|
4 months |
DTaP/IPV/Hib (“5 in 1”) and MenC |
|
6 months |
DTaP/IPV/Hib (“5 in 1”) and MenC |
|
12 -15 months |
MMR, Hib1 |
|
4-5 years |
DTaP/IPV (“4 in 1”) and MMR |
|
11-12 years |
MMR (omit if 2 previous doses) |
|
10-14 years |
BCG2 |
|
11-14 years |
Td |
1A single dose of Hib vaccine is also recommended if the child presents after age 13 months and has had no previous Hib vaccine.
2Only for those who are known to be tuberculin negative and have had no previous BCG.
The childhood immunisation programme is voluntary but I consider that all children should be appropriately vaccinated for their age. I urge all parents to have their children immunised against the diseases covered by the childhood immunisation programme in order to ensure that both their children and the population generally have maximum protection against the diseases concerned.
