Duncan Smith
Ceist:1552. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will expand the regulation to permit pharmacists to administer RSV vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56793/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 17 January 2024
Ceisteanna (1552)
Freagraí scríofa
The Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 determine what medicinal products can be administered by a pharmacist.
Currently there are no plans to amend the legislation to permit pharmacists to administer the RSV vaccine. Any amendments to legislation would need to be considered carefully and in line with public health.
To give current position in relation to policy considerations relating to RSV, the immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
COVID-19, influenza and pneumonia vaccines are currently available to certain groups of adults, who are most vulnerable to a severe outcome from these diseases, as part of the adult immunisation programme.
Additional information in relation to the current adult vaccination programme is available from the HSE website at www.hse.ie
NIAC has submitted advice in relation to RSV vaccines to my Department for consideration. It advises that RSV vaccines, which have recently received EMA authorisation, for infants and persons over 65yrs, are safe and effective and should be considered for use in Ireland. In its advice NIAC also noted that further analysis of cost effectiveness and programmatic considerations is required to determine the most appropriate use of RSV vaccination in Ireland.
In line with this, my Department has asked HIQA to include a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in their workplan to determine firstly, whether infant or adult vaccination would provide the greatest benefit in reducing healthcare utilisation due to RSV infection, and secondly, what the most cost-effective RSV immunisation strategy for Ireland would be.
The outcome of this HTA will determine whether or not a change to the National Immunisation Programme will be required. If so, the appropriate administration arrangements will be put in place.