Concerns raised over lack of clarity on resumption of Laura Brennan HPV catch-up scheme
Serious concerns have been raised that the Government has "abandoned" its commitment to restart the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up programme.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was unable to provide clarity around when such a programme, which would target thousands of young people who miss out on the vaccine each year, will be rolled out.
Campaigners have raised concerns around a backslide in uptake of the vaccine which can prevent a number of cancers, including cervical and throat cancer, and are urging the coalition to restart what was previously a highly successful catch-up programme.
Raising the issue in the Dáil, Roderic O'Gorman pointed out that the vaccination rates have been dropping since 2019, and around 16,000 young people now do not get it each year.
He said the programme for Government pledges to extend the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme to anyone under 25 who missed the original vaccination.
"I have been in touch with both the department of health and the HSE to find out when the new programme will run. No one has been able to give me a straight answer," he said.
They tell me how important the HPV vaccine is. I agree. They tell me they are going to run a distinct programme for minority groups. That is brilliant. However, no one can tell me when the Laura Brennan programme will run again.
"I am worried that they have decided not to do it and more importantly, the Irish Cancer Society is concerned that this scheme is not going to run again," the Green Party leader said.
Mr Martin said significant progress has been made in achieving the goal of eradicating HPV-related cancers through the vaccine.
"I will check with the minister for health in respect of the catch-up programme. I will ask the minister to revert back to the deputy in respect of it. It is a fair question to raise and I will follow it up."
Afterwards, Mr O'Gorman said he was "disappointed" that the Taoiseach could not provide an update on the status of the catch-up programme.
During the 2022/23 school year, 80% of girls and around 77% of boys received the HPV jab. However, this is down since the 2019/20 academic year — when 84.1% of girls and 81.5% of boys took up the vaccine.
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