Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2018
418. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the differing public health standards here, in contrast to Northern Ireland, in which a procurement model will purchase quadrivalent winter influenza vaccinations for persons under 65 years of age including persons at risk, pregnant women and healthcare workers for the 2018 to 2019 flu season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27938/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra419. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department is unwilling to adopt a new procurement approach to ensure that persons here are optimally protected from the most potent influenza viruses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27939/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra420. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department will not procure a quadrivalent vaccination for the forthcoming winter influenza season in view of evidence that over 50% of hospitalisations from influenza arose from the B strain Yamagata, which will not be included in the trivalent vaccine procured for the 2018 to 2019 influenza season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27940/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra421. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the World Health Organisation, WHO, published recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2018 to 2019 northern hemisphere influenza season, which recommends the strains to be contained within both quadrivalent and trivalent influenza vaccines; if he will request the Health Service Executive, HSE to follow this guidance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27941/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra422. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the rise in hospitalisations and deaths from influenza this season; his plans to make a provision to prevent the same occurrence during the 2018 to 2019 flu season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27942/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 418 to 422, inclusive, together.
The Flu vaccine purchased by HSE is based on WHO advice on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the northern hemisphere Flu season. The WHO issued advice on 22 February 2018, recommended that quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2018-2019 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:
- an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus;
- a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage); and
- a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage).
It is recommended that the influenza B virus component of trivalent vaccines for use in the 2018-2019 northern hemisphere influenza season be a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus of the B/Victoria/2/87-lineage.
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. The HSE 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 trivalent vaccine used in Ireland is the most widely used influenza vaccine in Europe.
Every winter the HSE develops a Flu Plan aimed at reducing the incidence of influenza in the general population and on preparing the health services to deal with increased activity resulting from increased influenza rate. Last winter the primary focus was on increasing vaccination rates among healthcare workers and at risk groups. The additional measures put in place last winter included:
- A national flu planning steering group which meets weekly is in place.
- A flu lead was put in place in each Public Health Department, who liaised with CHO and Hospital Group flu planning groups.
- There was digital advertising and promotions target at risk groups, the over 65s, pregnant women and healthcare workers.
- Each HG and associated CHO produced a Winter Plan which includes a specific section on Flu.
- The Flu Medication Protocol was revised.
The HSE also put in place additional measures to ensure it was in a position to identify and react to any significant increase in health service demands. These included:
- The National Flu Planning Group continues to meet every Friday.
- The SDU continues to liaise daily with HGs.
- Additional measures were activated when the ILI rate exceeded the baseline figures which fed into the Winter Initiative Planning and include cascading of information to HGs, CHOs and GPs concerning the use of anti-virals, respiratory hygiene, rescheduling of elective surgery and the activation of discharge plans.
These measures mitigated the impact of the sustained higher influenza rates on the health services last winter.
