Junior Minister hails immunisation programme

Immunisation against infectious disease has saved more lives than any other public health intervention in Irish history, apart from providing clean water, it was claimed today.

Junior Health and Children Minister Tim O’Malley urged parents to ensure their children were protected against infectious diseases.

“Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting children against certain diseases,” he said.

Mr O’Malley encouraged parents to have their children immunised against the diseases covered by the childhood immunisation programme to achieve maximum protection.

The recommended childhood schedule in this country contains immunisations against 10 main diseases: Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough, Polio, Haemophilus Influenzae B disease, Meningococcal C disease, Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

Mr O’Malley, who today launched the video "Be Wise Immunise", said that following the introduction of immunisations, the incidence of infection, and deaths, due to these diseases fell dramatically.

The two most recent immunisations added to the childhood programme were against Haemophilus Influenzae B disease in 1992 and the Meningococcal C disease in 2000.

The Minister of State warned that in order to fully eliminate the diseases 95% or more of the population needed to be immunised.

The National Disease Surveillance Centre said that uptake rates for immunisation have reached 92-94% in three health boards.

The NDSC said that regional disparities in immunisation levels must be tackled.