Vaccination Programme

1940. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the decision-making process in providing live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) to schools on an opt-in basis rather than mandating participation; to provide details on any cost-effectiveness, capacity, safety or clinical analyses undertaken; the reasons for utilising general practitioner and pharmacy-led delivery models as opposed to a c…

1941. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a detailed breakdown documenting the numeric and percentage take-up per county by children in schools facilitating the children's school flu programme; the percentage of the total school number per county involved in facilitating provision of the vaccine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19679/26]

1942. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the unit within her Department that has responsibility for matters relating to the delivery of the children's influenza vaccination programmes in schools; the governance and coordination arrangements in place between her Department, the Department of Health and the HSE in respect of this programme; to provide details of any formal interdepa…

1963. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a detailed breakdown documenting the way in which the children's school flu programme is funded; the annual overall cost of the programme; the amount allocated for school-based delivery; and the number of participating schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19727/26]

541. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing full State funding for the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine for all adults aged 60 and over, in light of the current out-of-pocket cost of approximately €500, which places it beyond the reach of many older people; and to outline her Department's assessment of international models, including the United Kingdom…

240. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will include the shingrix (shingles) vaccine in the HSE’s covered vaccine schedule, particularly for immunocompromised patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17262/26]

793. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health if she plans reduce the cost of the shingles vaccine for State pensioners and those who cannot afford the cost of the vaccine at the moment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16326/26]

865. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department is reviewing the potential inclusion of Shingrix in the national immunisation programme for over 65s; if any timelines, assessments or consultations are currently underway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16645/26]

880. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken or commissioned any cost-effectiveness analysis comparing high-dose influenza vaccines with standard dose influenza vaccines for adults aged 65 years and over for the 2026/2027 influenza season; if so, the date on which that analysis was completed; whether it informed procurement planning for that season; a…

881. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has formally requested the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to review high-dose influenza vaccines since 1 January 2025; if so, the date of that request; whether a written record of the request exists; and whether any further review is currently under consideration. [16703/26]

903. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health if she will consider providing the shingles vaccine for free for persons over 65 years-of-age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16923/26]

956. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if she is tendering for the enhanced flu vaccine for Winter 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17128/26]

957. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if NIAC will review the guidelines around high dose vaccines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17129/26]

631. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a model for a vaccine damage scheme; the timeframe for the commencement of a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16075/26]

922. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide the shingles vaccine for free for the over 60s under the national immunisation schedule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14071/26]

991. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of making the HPV vaccine available free regardless of age, gender, or student status. [14482/26]

1007. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the current tender process for season 2026/2027 will not be delayed by her or cancelled; the reason she would not consider the creation of a “Pathfinder” programme, as developed for the temporary usage of monoclonal antibody in RSV for the past two seasons (details supplied). [14554/26]

581. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm that the estimate for immunisation has increased from €10,788,000 in 2025 to €54,377,000 in 2026 in the Revised Estimates for Public Services under primary care reimbursement services (details supplied); the cause for this increase in immunisation spend; the services or costs which fall under this increased allocation; whether any bud…

1197. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason high dose vaccines have been omitted from the recommendations by NIAC as a viable alternative to standard dose vaccines for inclusion in the influenza season 2026/27, especially given that HIQA reviewed high dose vaccines as part of a cost effectiveness health technology assessment in early 2025 and concluded that high dose vaccine …

1198. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to list the countries where high dose vaccines have been commercially available since 2010, and if they are typically the preferentially recommended option over standard dose for adults aged 60 or 65 years and older in many of these countries; given that NIAC themselves also reviewed their own guidelines in mid-2025 without making any alterati…

1199. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason the her Department did not request NIAC to update recommendations last year to facilitate the public good for flu season 2026/27, given that NIAC also reviewed their own guidelines in mid-2025 without making any alterations; if she will now seek to cancel the tender; the steps she will take to ensure that high dose vaccines are revi…

1200. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to ensure the current tender process for season 2026/27 will go ahead; the reason she would not consider the creation of a pathfinder programme, as developed for the temporary usage of monoclonal antibody in RSV for the past two seasons (details supplied). [12698/26]

311. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if she will address the serious issues raised in correspondence relating to the shingles vaccination (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10632/26]

1079. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the estimated price, per patient, of the standard flu vaccine and of the enhanced flu vaccine; if she will introduce a policy of offering both vaccinations and allowing patients decide if they want to pay the extra cost of the enhanced vaccine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9686/26]

1080. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health whether she will request that the NIAC update its recommendation on enhanced influenza vaccination for older persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9687/26]