Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
1378. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the timeline of the review of the epidemiology of tuberculosis here considering the public health impact of having no BCG vaccination since April 2015; when this review will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22492/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe BCG vaccine is given to protect babies against tuberculosis (TB). It is important to note that the number of cases of TB in Ireland is low. A total of ten cases were reported in the 0-14 age group in 2019.
As of 2015, most European countries did not give the BCG vaccine routinely to all babies (Dierig et al, Vaccine, 2015).
In April 2015, due to a lack of vaccine from the sole EU supplier, the BCG vaccine became unavailable in Ireland. In 2015, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended that the BCG vaccine does not need to be given to all children in Ireland. The Heath Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published a Health Technology Assessment of BCG vaccine in Ireland in December 2015. This also concluded that BCG vaccination does not need to be given to all children in Ireland.
The HSE were requested, in 2019, to undertake an updated review of the epidemiology of TB in Ireland, considering the public health impact of having no BCG vaccination since April 2015. The review was completed and the National TB Advisory Committee (NTBAC) met to consider its findings on 16 December 2019.
My Department has been informed that the view of the Committee was that universal BCG vaccination should not be implemented at this time. The Committee agreed that the decision on whether a selective BCG vaccination programme targeting at risk groups or no BCG vaccination programme should be recommended, was outside the scope of the NTBAC and should be considered by the NIAC.
The NIAC has been asked to make recommendations to the HSE about the BCG immunisation programme. This work by the Committee was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have now recommenced their considerations on this issue and hope to report to the HSE before the end of the year.
The outcome of these processes, once finalised, will guide my Department regarding the future provision of BCG vaccination in Ireland.
