Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 January 2019
137. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including additional groups in the free meningitis B vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2078/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra140. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health his plans for a roll-out of the programme of meningitis B vaccinations for children who had not received it to date especially those in high risks categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2085/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra149. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the feasibility of rolling out the meningitis B vaccine and making it freely available to each child will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2115/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 140 and 149 together.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is an independent committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland which is comprised of experts in a number of specialties, including infectious diseases, paediatrics, and public health, which makes recommendations to my Department on vaccination policy in Ireland.
On foot of a recommendation by NIAC, the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule was amended in 2016 to include the introduction of the Meningitis B vaccine for all babies born on or after 1 October 2016. This change to the immunisation schedule took effect from 1 December 2016. The first dose of the vaccine is administered to children when they reach two months of age; a second dose is administered at four months and a third and final dose at twelve months. Meningitis B disease is most common in babies under the age of 1 year old and the scheduling of the administration of the vaccine under the immunisation programme takes account of this.
All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. Ireland is the second country in Europe to make the Men B vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.
There are no plans to introduce a catch-up programme for the Men B vaccine to older children. Those who have a medical card are eligible to have the vaccine administered by their GP free of charge. However, the purchase of the vaccine is not covered by the medical card scheme.
In Ireland, Men B, Men C, PCV and Hib vaccines are offered to children to protect them against meningitis.
As of Monday 14 January 2019, thirteen cases of meningococcal disease have been notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). Three deaths are associated with the thirteen cases. It is important to note that, although three of the thirteen notified cases are related to Meningitis B, none of the 3 deaths have been attributed to this strain of the disease.
