I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 344 together.
There was an extensive debate on the safety of the HPV vaccine and its efficacy in preventing the development of cervical cancer in this House on 28 March last in which a motion was passed unanimously which recognised that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects young girls from developing a cervical cancer when they grow up, supported the campaign to encourage parents to avail of the HPV vaccine for their children in their first year of secondary school, and called for the programme to be extended to include boys.
The Health Information and Quality Authority is undertaking a health technology assessment, at the request of my Department, on extending the national immunisation schedule to include HPV vaccination of boys. This HTA will establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of providing the vaccine to boys. The decision to extend the current programme which offers HPV vaccination to all girls in their first year of second-level education to a programme that also offers vaccination to boys will be informed by the evidence contained in the HTA.
As I said during the debate, I share the Deputy's view that it should be concluded as quickly as possible and, subject to a favourable HTA, I will seek to extend this vaccine universally as a priority.
