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Vaccination Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018

Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Ceisteanna (383, 384, 385, 410, 411, 412)

James Browne

Ceist:

383. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the steps will he will take to ensure that the winter 'flu vaccine serves as the optimal vaccination protection in view of the recent 'flu epidemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4098/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

James Browne

Ceist:

384. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if his Department will create a tendering process for four-strain influenza protection; if a cost-benefit analysis of this need has been conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4099/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

James Browne

Ceist:

385. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if his Department will revise the terms affecting tendering for production of the 'flu vaccination to counter four strains of flu instead of three strains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4100/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

James Browne

Ceist:

410. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if a tender has been completed for the next winter 'flu vaccination; the cost of this tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4209/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

James Browne

Ceist:

411. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if a cost assessment has been conducted on the amount a quadrivalent vaccine would cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4210/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

James Browne

Ceist:

412. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the additional estimated cost to provide a quadrivalent vaccine for winter 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4211/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 to 385, inclusive, and 410 to 412, inclusive, together.

Vaccination is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of all health care interventions. The seasonal influenza immunisation campaign is one of the cornerstones of the HSE’s Winter Initiative Plan. The HSE launched their influenza immunisation campaign for winter 2017-18 on 2 October 2017. The primary focus is to increase vaccination rates among healthcare workers and among at risk groups.

The initial reports indicate an increase in the numbers receiving the vaccine this year:

- Health Care Workers in Acute Hospitals - the uptake is now 37.9%, which is higher than the total uptake last winter (33.7%);

- Health Care Workers in Long Term Care Facilities - this is now 32.2% (up from 27% at the end of the last flu season). The uptake of vaccine in long term residents is now 89.9%;

- At risk groups - over 900,000 vaccines distributed an increase of 109,000 on last year;

- Immunisation of over-65s. To date uptake is 61.9% (an increase of 3% on the same period last year);

- Other at risk groups - PCRS figures indicate that 180-200,000 medical card/GP services card holders have received the vaccine.

However, these figures are preliminary and more detailed information will be available in 2018.

The influenza vaccine purchased by HSE is based on WHO advice on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2017/8 northern hemisphere Flu season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2017-2018 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

- an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;

- an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus; and

- a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

The WHO issued this advice on 2 March 2017. This season (2017/18) the HSE procured the trivalent inactivated Influenza vaccine (Split Virion) BP seasonal influenza vaccine for all those in the recommended at risk groups and health care workers and carers. The trivalent vaccine used in Ireland is the most widely used influenza vaccine in Europe. The initial evidence suggests that the vaccine provides higher protection against the Influenza A strains than recent years (H3N2 & H1N1). While it is less effective against the B strains predominating this year, people who received the flu vaccine in recent years should still have some residual immunity.

In Ireland the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) an independent committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland which comprises experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics, and public health makes recommendation on vaccination policy in Ireland. Their recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. I am aware that NIAC is considering the need to expand the current recommendations for influenza vaccine, including the potential community wide benefit of extending recommendations to include all children..

The HSE National Immunisation Office and HSE Procurement are responsible for the purchase of influenza vaccine. To ensure vaccine supply, this tender process must be completed 9 months in advance of the first delivery into Ireland at the end of August. I have been informed by the HSE that the Executive has already completed and awarded the tender for the supply of trivalent inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine for 2018/19 at a cost of €3.2- 4 million (depending on whether contingency doses are procured). The composition of the vaccine will be based on the advices of the WHO for the 2018-2019 northern hemisphere influenza season.

The cost of providing quadrivalent vaccine for 2018/19 is estimated by the HSE to be of the order of €9 million. This cost is based on the commercial price of the vaccine. The actual cost to the HSE would depend on the outcome of a tendering process.

As Deputies are aware, the HSE has responsibility for the procurement of all vaccines used in the State’s immunisation programmes and it would be highly inappropriate to interfere in any procurement carried out by any State agency.

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