I thank the Minister of State for coming this evening to take this Topical Issue matter. Over recent months, there has been ongoing debate about the merits of providing enhanced influenza vaccines such as high-dose or adjuvanted formulations for people aged 65 years and older. The Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, conducted a health technology assessment, HTA, which found that enhanced vaccines are likely to provide greater protection than standard influenza vaccines in older adults, with the potential to reduce severe illness, hospitalisation and influenza-related mortality in this high-risk group. Despite these findings, the HSE did not proceed with a tender for enhanced influenza vaccines last year, citing cost-effectiveness concerns. However, the scale and severity of the influenza outbreak in recent weeks, characterised by high levels of community transmission, significant pressure on hospitals and a disproportionate impact on older people, raises questions about whether the current approach adequately reflects the true cost of influenza to the health system. Hospital admissions, bed occupancy and delayed discharges during peak flu periods carry substantial financial and operational consequences. Preventing even a modest proportion of these admissions through improved vaccine effectiveness could offset the higher upfront cost of enhanced vaccines. In addition, vaccine uptake among older adults remains suboptimal in some communities, suggesting that availability alone is not sufficient. Public awareness, confidence and timely access all play critical roles in determining vaccination rates. Clear public messaging, earlier seasonal campaigns and stronger engagement through GPs, pharmacists and community organisations may help to improve uptake, particularly among those at risk of severe outcomes. In light of this year's flu cases and associated hospitalisations, what consideration has been given to funding an enhanced flu vaccination programme for older adults ahead of the next flu season? What measures are being considered to improve public awareness, confidence and uptake of the flu vaccine among older people to maximise the impact of the vaccination programme and reduce preventable illness and hospital pressure? We are not a million miles off the vaccination target for the age cohort of 65 and older. However, another concern I have is for those aged between two and 17. The HSE has a target that 50% of children in that cohort will be vaccinated, but we are way below that, at below 20%. Will the Minister of State give consideration to improving uptake of the flu vaccine among children?

Sentiment score: 0.07

I thank the Minister of State, who is here instead of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. She has probably heard me in parliamentary party meetings in recent years talking about access to drugs in general in the round. It does not surprise me that the response from the Department is that we need to do more research because that is generally what it does when it comes to expanding and rolling out drugs right across the board for patients. There is one thing that annoys me. As a Government, we have made a political decision to expand the RSV programme. It is a commitment in the programme for Government. While my question does not directly relate to RSV, it is on the spectrum when it comes to flu vaccinations. RSV vaccination is right in there. We have made a political decision as a Government to expand that. NIAC has recommended that the RSV vaccine be expanded. However, we have not done that yet. I am not discounting the fact we might do it in the future, and I hope to God we do, because it will prevent some of the chaotic scenes we see in our emergency departments over the winter months in particular. I would lay down the gauntlet to the Department of Health that it is time it got off its chair and made these decisions and big calls. NIAC has recommended that the RSV vaccination be expanded to older people. We already do it for children. It has recommended this. The Minister of State has said that it will cost between €4 million and €19 million for flu. Obviously, there are many caveats in that. I assume it involves many different age cohorts and whatever. I ask the Minister of State to consider rolling it out to people in nursing homes who may be vulnerable, to see if that is effective and cost efficient to begin with. Obviously, cost effectiveness is more important that people's health; that is what I keep being in told here when I raise these questions. As regards cost effectiveness, has the Department estimated to the Minister of State, or would she be able to find out in writing afterwards, what the cost of people who present with flu or RSV, for example, is during every winter period? I guarantee it is far less than the €4 million to €19 million range given to us this evening.

Sentiment score: 0.07