Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1939. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if the HPV vaccine will be provided to boys from September 2019; the cost of the roll-out; if sufficient public health nurses are available and have been hired for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34377/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) made a recommendation that the HPV vaccine should be given to boys. On foot of NIAC’s recommendation, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) in relation to extending the national immunisation schedule to include human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of boys. HIQA completed the HTA in December 2018 and recommended that the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys. A policy decision was made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys and introduce a 9-valent HPV vaccine starting in September 2019.
In relation to the operational matters raised I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
