HPV vaccine catch-up programme to be rolled out in schools ‘without delay'
Simon Harris
has said.
The programme for Government includes a commitment to extend the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme to anyone under 25 who missed the initial vaccination.
The first phase of the campaign will be aimed at those still in secondary school.
HPV is a group of viruses known to infect the genital area, the mouth and the throat. Last year the National Cancer Registry reported an estimated 641 cases of new HPV-associated cancers diagnosed and 196 cancer deaths every year in Ireland, most of which are potentially preventable by vaccination.
Women are twice as likely to die from such illnesses as men.
Minister for Health
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
'has decided to introduce a schools-based HPV vaccine catch-up programme without delay', Mr Harris said.
'This will give students who have previously been offered a HPV vaccine another opportunity to receive that vaccine.'
However, Green Party leader
Roderic O'Gorman
said the vaccine would cost €600 for anyone who has already finished school.
Raising the issue in the Dáil this week he highlighted the case of 20-year-old Lucy, who missed the HPV vaccine when she was at school and who wants to take it up now.
'The cost of the initial appointment with a practice nurse, multiple shots and multiple GP visits to get those shots totals is €600. She is a third-level student. She does not have that level of disposable income.'
He asked: 'Why does she have to fork out €600? Why does she have to pay for potentially life-saving shots when just six months ago the Government committed to rerunning the Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up campaign?'
The Tánaiste said 'the Minister is exploring opportunities to identify a suitable delivery model for those aged under 25 who have left school. In the meantime, it is important to have as many children of school-going age as possible vaccinated.'
When Mr O'Gorman said Lucy would not benefit from the programme the Tánaiste replied: 'we have to start. Some 75,000 people will benefit from the catch-up programme.'
The HPV vaccination programme is named after Clare woman Laura Brennan, who when diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer campaigned for young people to get vaccinated
The vaccination programme is named after Clare woman Laura Brennan, who when diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer campaigned for young people to get vaccinated and described her disease as the 'reality of an unvaccinated girl'. She died in 2019 at the age of 26.
It has been estimated that screening combined with HPV vaccination and cervical cancer treatment will result in the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem in Ireland by 2040.
In a parliamentary reply in April on extending the programme to those up to the age of 24, Ms Carroll MacNeill said to eliminate cervical cancer, all countries must aim to ensure that 90 per cent of girls are vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years.
'As there are competing vaccination priorities and demand on resources is high, it is critical that any resources available are directed to where they can best be utilised to produce maximum clinical impact.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Family of girl who died at Irish college seek review of CHI care
The family of a 14-year-old girl who died after collapsing while attending Irish college say they want answers and an independent review into her care from Children's Health Ireland (CHI). After waiting four months for a response, Amelia Belle Ferguson's family received a list of answers to their questions from CHI last week. But they say they have more questions about their daughter's care. Suzi Mangan and Brian Ferguson, Amelia's parents, and Amelia's sister Poppy held a protest with the support of friends and family outside the Department of Health last week. They called for more transparency and scrutiny of the care she received and the information CHI shared with them in the final months of her life. Amelia died after collapsing while out on a walk during her time at an Irish college in Co Galway last summer. Her heart had been beating in chaotic rhythms and ultimately failed. Since she was a baby she had been receiving care from CHI for a pre-existing condition with her heart that meant she required a pacemaker. READ MORE Suzi Mangan and her daughter Poppy Ferguson hold a photo of Suzi's older daughter Amelia Belle Ferguson, who died in June 2024. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien Ms Mangan said the family had raised concerns with CHI about whether issues raised at what would become Amelia's final appointment in May 2024 should have been taken more seriously. The family also say they only learned important details about her health records after she died. Despite what Ms Mangan said were concerns raised at Amelia's last appointment, CHI would later send a letter saying her cardiovascular examination that day was 'normal'. It arrived on the day of Amelia's funeral. CHI has apologised to the family for the letter. The family first formally sought answers to a series of questions about Amelia's care in April of this year, giving CHI four weeks to respond. Ms Mangan said she received a lengthy response from CHI the day before the demonstration was scheduled to take place outside the Department of Health. [ A Gaeltacht tragedy: 'I never would have sent her if I thought anything was wrong' Opens in new window ] 'I believe they only responded because they knew the protest was happening and the answers I received are inadequate,' Ms Mangan said. 'The answers I received didn't actually answer all of my questions, they are vague and some are just about their general protocols but not actually what I asked in relation to Amelia's individual case. 'It shouldn't have to be like this. 'We need honesty, transparency, accountability, and internal and external investigations done if a child dies under their care,' Ms Mangan said. 'Families shouldn't have to go through this horrendous system.' Amelia Belle Ferguson in 2023: Photograph: Ferguson family A spokeswoman for CHI said the hospital group would support a request from the family for an inquest into Amelia's death. But Ms Mangan said she does not want an inquest, but a specific external review of how the case was handled by CHI. CHI had previously said it could not 'provide details about the care provided to individual patients publicly', but that it remained committed to working with her family 'to answer any and all questions they have about Amelia's care with us'.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Doctors increasingly prescribe highly addictive opioids for pain, RCSI study finds
The prescribing of pain medication, including highly addictive opioids, has risen significantly in the State in recent years, according to new research. Usage rates of pain medications now outpace those in England, prompting concerns that overprescribing certain drugs could result in dependency issues among patients. Researchers at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences say long waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery, such as hip and knee replacements, are partially to blame for the surge in prescriptions in the State. Published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology on Thursday, the RCSI study raises questions about healthcare access, prescribing practices and the availability of non-drug interventions to address pain. READ MORE Researchers examined national prescribing data between 2014-2022, focusing on patients in the Republic covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme – people with a medical card, representing about one-third of the population – and on data from all general practices in England. The use of opioids in the State increased by about 25 per cent over the period, while prescriptions for paracetamol rose by 50 per cent. Specific medicines including codeine and stronger opioids such as tapentadol and oxycodone increased by even higher percentages. By contrast, England experienced declining use across most classes of pain medications during the same time frame. The analysis revealed prescribing levels in the State were substantially higher than in England by 2022: twice as high for opioids, four times higher for anti-inflammatories, and nearly five times higher for paracetamol. 'Many of these medications carry risks such as dependency which can be worsened by overprescribing,' said Prof Frank Moriarty , senior author of the study and associate professor at the RCSI school of pharmacy and bimolecular sciences. Mr Moriarty said part of the disparity in the prescription rates can be attributed to the differing populations studied. The National Health Service (NHS) data covers the entire population of England, while the Irish data reflects prescribing to GMS patients, a group in which older adults are over-represented. However, even taking this into account, more patients in England have access to pain clinics and non-pharmacological interventions such as physical therapy through the NHS. In the Republic, such services are less widely available, particularly for medical card holders who cannot afford to pay for private healthcare. Mr Moriarty said extensive waiting lists for surgery in the Republic likely result in 'more decisions to prescribe [strong painkillers] for longer than otherwise'. A patient's tolerance to and dependence on a certain medication will increase over time, he added. Mr Moriarty said the researchers 'can't say for certain how many of these prescriptions might be over-prescriptions or inappropriate prescriptions'. 'Ultimately it comes down to an assessment between the prescriber and the patient, and what is in the patient's best interests. Sometimes the person is dealing with very severe pain and the prescription may be the most appropriate course of action so the patient has a good quality of life.' In a bid to reduce the upward trend of prescribing strong painkillers for long periods, the Irish health service must address long waiting times for surgery and ensure patients 'have access to safe, evidence-based alternatives to medications', he said. The study was carried out in collaboration with the HSE's Quality and Patient Safety Directorate, University of Oxford, University College Cork and University College Dublin.
Irish Examiner
14 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Alcohol Ireland's leading addiction among those seeking treatment from services, new report shows
Alcohol remains the leading national addiction, but cocaine is now the biggest addiction problem in the east of the country. A new report on addiction trends produced by Coolmine Therapeutic Community, the drug and alcohol treatment service, covers the first half of the year and shows demand for treatment services remains at record-high levels. The data shows alcohol accounted for 40% of all presentations to its services so far this year, a slight increase from 37% during the same period in 2024. Cocaine is next, accounting for 31% of presentations, followed by cannabis at 11%, benzodiazepines at 9%, and heroin accounting for 8% of presentations. But the report also found notable differences in regional trends, with alcohol the most common substance in the south-west of the country, accounting for 53% of presentations, and at 34% in the mid-west. Cocaine remains the leading substance in the east of the country, at 36%. A total of 1,969 clients accessed treatment and support through Coolmine in the first half of the year, virtually unchanged from the record-setting demand experienced in 2024. Coolmine chief executive Pauline McKeown said this suggested elevated service levels had become the new norm for addiction treatment in Ireland. 'Alcohol and cocaine remain the most prominent substances for which people are seeking help, and demand for our services — especially for women and families — remains incredibly high," she said. 'Our teams continue to meet this need with compassion and professionalism. At Coolmine, we believe in the power of recovery and are committed to ensuring people across Ireland can access the support they need to transform their lives." A breakdown of the treatment figures shows nationally, 57% of clients were men and 43% women, reflecting an increase in female engagement compared to 2024. Coolmine supported 305 families across its services so far this year, with 37 parents involved in its Parents under Pressure (PuP) programme, and it has 35 children living with a parent in treatment. A total of 1,794 children were directly impacted by parental substance use and received support, the report shows. Coolmine also said its residential and community services were nearing full capacity, with Ashleigh House, its dedicated residential programme for women and mothers with young children, and Coolmine Lodge, the male residential therapeutic community, operating at 100% occupancy. Its Dublin-based outreach services saw a 15.6% increase in presentations, with 414 individuals supported through the Assertive Traveller Outreach, Private Emergency Accommodations Team, and Genio programmes in the first half of the year, with a significant portion of the demand linked to housing and emergency accommodation. 'The sustained pressure on our residential and outreach services shows the scale of need we are responding to every day. We are seeing more people, from more backgrounds, reaching out for support,' Ms McKeown said.
