Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
762. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide details of any assessment undertaken by her Department on extending publicly funded access to the shingles vaccine for cancer patients and other immunocompromised individuals; whether such a proposal has been considered following recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52921/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra763. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of providing the shingles vaccine free-of-charge to cancer patients who are clinically advised to receive it; whether this option has been examined by her Department; and if she will publish any cost-benefit analysis undertaken. [52922/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra764. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer patients who have received financial assistance from the State towards the cost of the shingles vaccine in each of the past five years; and the supports currently available to patients who are advised by their consultant to receive the vaccine but cannot afford it. [52923/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra765. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health whether consideration has been given to including the shingles vaccine on the list of medicines and treatments available without charge to eligible cancer patients under publicly funded cancer care, where the vaccine is clinically indicated to reduce the risk of complications arising during treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52924/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 762 to 765, inclusive, together.
I am advised that the shingles vaccine is not currently funded by the HSE for any patient.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is informed by the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice
The current NIAC guidelines state that the shingles vaccine may be considered for those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease in this age group and in those aged 18 years and older at increased risk of shingles.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. HIQA’s HTA examined the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule.
HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.
While the vaccine is considered safe and effective, its protective effect diminishes over time. HIQA also noted the substantial budget impact associated with vaccination. If made available to everyone aged 65 and older, vaccination would cost €218 million over five years.
HIQA's HTA estimated that the five-year incremental budget for eligible immunocompromised persons, as recommended by NIAC (with 100% coverage), would be €56.2 million. This estimate comprised €46.3 million for the cohort aged 50 years and older with non-specific immunocompromising conditions, and €9.8 million for specific groups including those with haematological malignancies, solid organ transplant recipients, haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and those with advanced/untreated HIV.
Whilst the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.
Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.
My Department considered the findings of this HTA in 2024 and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable
I can confirm that the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland 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.
