Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1642.To ask the Minister for Health if he will look at expanding the HPV Catch up Vaccination Programme for children who did not receive it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34072/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.

The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection.

The HPV vaccine is currently offered, free of charge, to boys and girls in first year of secondary school and is administered through the School Immunisation Programme. It is critical that the HPV vaccine is administered early and before any likely exposure to HPV. Maximising uptake in the schools-based HPV vaccination programme will be necessary to achieve the target of cervical cancer elimination.

My Department is working with the HSE to review the available options for future catch up opportunities.