3798. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Health whether she has considered introducing a free shingles vaccination programme for adults aged 60 years and over, given that approximately half of all shingles cases occur in this age cohort and that the incidence and severity of the disease increase with age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63012/26]

3892. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 3262 of 28 July 2026 where she confirmed the 'introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland is again being actively considered for a cohort of immunocompromised individual' if she will outline the proposed timeline for this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63360/26]

3951. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health whether the National Immunisation Advisory Committee has considered, or has been requested to consider, the introduction of a national shingles vaccination programme for older adults; the current status of any such consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63692/26]

3954. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which the shingles vaccine is currently available free of charge or subsidised through the public health system; the number of persons who received the vaccine through publicly funded services in each of the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63690/26]

3982. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health if her Department has undertaken, or intends to undertake, a cost-benefit analysis of providing the shingles vaccine to older persons through the public health system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63688/26]

3983. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE has considered emerging research indicating that vaccination against shingles may be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, heart failure and stroke; whether this evidence will be considered in assessing the public health benefits of shingles vaccination; and if she will make a statement on the matter [63687/26]

3984. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health if her Department has considered expanding access to the shingles vaccine through a publicly funded vaccination programme for older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63686/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3798, 3892, 3951, 3954 and 3982 to 3984, inclusive, 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 National Immunisation Programme does not currently provide the shingles vaccine.

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.

HIQA has undertaken preparation for the commencement of a scoping exercise to establish whether there is any relevant additional scientific information available subsequent to the 2024 HTA which may be pertinent to review to inform matters.

I can confirm that the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland is again being actively considered in line with NIAC advice and cognisant of the cost effectiveness of market pricing and available funding.