480. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if an assessment has been carried out on the impact that the cost of the shingles vaccine has on older people in receipt of the State pension; if discussions have taken place with the Department of Health regarding supports for vulnerable pensioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54330/26]

487. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she acknowledges that the cost of the shingles vaccine, currently estimated at approximately €450–€600 for the full course, represents a significant financial burden for many older people, particularly those reliant on the State pension; the measures being considered to improve affordability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54325/26]

489. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she accepts that many pensioners are effectively being asked to spend the equivalent of up to two weeks of their State pension to access the recommended shingles vaccine; the measures that are being considered to reduce this financial burden; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54327/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 480, 487 and 489 together.

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.

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.