David Cullinane
Ceist:135. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health her plans for expanding the adult vaccination programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28498/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 21 April 2026
Ceisteanna (135)
Freagraí scríofa
Ireland has a robust and effective immunisation programme that operates over the life span, with vaccinations offered from infancy through to old age.
• Vaccination across the life course supports a healthier adult population, promotes healthy aging and helps protect against serious illness.
• Pneumonia, flu and COVID-19 vaccines are currently available to certain groups of adults, who are most vulnerable to a severe outcome from these diseases, as part of the immunisation programme.
• The pneumococcal vaccine protects against pneumococcal disease which can lead to pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis.
• The Influenza Vaccination Programme ensures that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza have access to the flu vaccine, free of charge. For winter 2024, the flu vaccination programme was expanded to also include those aged 60 to 64 in the older age category. Ireland has one of the highest flu vaccine uptake rates for older adults in Europe, reaching nearly 75% in the 2024/25 Flu season, which is the target set for this group by the WHO.
• For last season, over a million people were protected from serious complications of seasonal flu infection and almost 50,000 more children were protected than the previous year. We achieved above-target levels of vaccination coverage for our most vulnerable older adults, those aged 80 years and over and those in long-term care facilities, at around 91% and 83% vaccine coverage respectively.
• The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme currently offers a free COVID-19 booster vaccine to people who are aged 80 years and older, immunocompromised and those living in residential care facilities. People aged 70 to 79 years who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine in the last 12 months are also eligible. A good uptake is crucial to get maximum effect.
• In addition the RSV Infant Pathfinder Programme provided immunisation to 88% of newborn babies and 52% of babies who were aged 6 months and under at the start of the RSV season. This meant that more infants were protected from RSV infection during the winter season when the infection is in high circulation.
• Vaccines deliver their best public health impact when uptake is high, protecting individuals, their families and their communities. Therefore, I urge everyone eligible, and particularly older adults, to take up every opportunity to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.
• In relation to vaccines, such as the shingles vaccine and the RSV vaccine for adults, that are not part of the National Immunisation Programme, work is underway in relation to assessing the potential for their inclusion in the Programme.
• A Health Technology Assessment on RSV immunisation for infants and adults will provide advice to my department to inform a policy decision on the most appropriate RSV Immunisation Strategy for infants and adults aged 65 and older.
• The introduction of the shingles vaccine is again being actively considered for a cohort of immunocompromised individuals, in line with NIAC advice and cognisant of the cost effectiveness of market pricing and available funding.
Question No. 136 orally answered with Question No. 123.