Viral meningitis monitoring
Deputy Whitmore asked how Ireland is monitoring the UK viral meningitis outbreak and whether there would be warnings or a catch-up vaccine programme. The Tánaiste said the HSE and Department of Health were monitoring the situation and assessed the risk to Ireland as very low.
We are hearing really awful reports from the UK about the viral meningitis outbreak there. Unfortunately, two young people have died and there have been 27 cases in total. There has also been a case in Belfast but I understand the two instances are not connected. In this country, teenagers and young people were not part of the vaccination program that was rolled out in 2016. What is the Government doing to warn parents about symptoms and to monitor the situation in the hope that the outbreak does not spread from the UK to Ireland? Are there plans for a catch-up programme for the young people and teenagers who were not part of the 2016 vaccination programme?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Department of Health and the HSE are aware of the outbreak recently reported in the UK and are actively monitoring the situation. Based on information available, the HSE assesses that the overall population risk in Ireland related to the UK outbreak remains very low. This aligns with the assessment of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control that the risk to the general public in the EU remains very low due to the very small probability of exposure and potential infection.
Our immunisation programme is based on the advice of the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC. We have MenB, MenC and MenACWY vaccines to protect from diseases caused by meningitis A, B, C, W and Y. The MenB and MenC vaccines are included in the primary childhood immunisation program for babies born since October 2016. The MenB vaccine is offered at two and four months of age, with a booster dose given at 12 months. The MenC vaccine is offered to children at 13 months. Following a NIAC recommendation, since 2019, the vaccine has been offered as part of the MenACWY vaccine to students in first year.
NIAC does not currently recommend a MenB vaccine programme for adolescents but it continues to review the epidemiology of it. It is carrying out an evidence review of the MenB vaccine in adolescents and young adults. Following that review, should there be a need for action, we will, of course, act. I know the Deputy will agree it is important that we follow the advice of NIAC.