Medical professionals have urged the introduction of a comprehensive nationwide vaccination programme for adults, comparable to those provided for children, and have also called for the shingles vaccine to be offered free of charge to older individuals, reports RTE.
Consultant geriatrician and stroke physician at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Professor Ronan Collins, stated that vaccination represents the most significant medical advancement in modern history, reports RTE.
Speaking to the Oireachtas Committee on Health, he noted that while childhood vaccination programmes are standard practice, Ireland’s strategy for adult immunisation has been comparatively underdeveloped.
He explained that vaccination plays a key role in healthcare by supporting healthy ageing and helping to prevent conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and dementia, reports RTE.
The committee meeting also included appeals for the recombinant shingles vaccine to be made freely accessible to people aged over 65.
Shingles is a viral infection that results in a painful rash, originating from the chickenpox virus, and it can lead to further health complications, reports RTE.
At present, the vaccine is not offered through the public health system and is only available privately, costing approximately €480 for the required two doses.
In a written submission to the committee, Professor Luke O’Neill of the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute stated that roughly one in ten older adults may develop shingles each year, reports RTE.
He highlighted that the vaccine is highly effective and is already provided in several countries, including the UK, Australia, Luxembourg, Canada, as well as under Medicare in the UN.
Prof O’Neill also pointed to evidence indicating the vaccine’s effectiveness in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease, reports RTE.
He added that the current objective should be to boost uptake of the Shingrix vaccine among those over 65, noting that making it free would significantly support this goal.
Prof O’Neill further stated that with an estimated 70% uptake and around 10,000 cases annually, potential savings could reach up to €8 million each year, reports RTE.
Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) informed the committee that the National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommends the vaccine for all adults aged 65 and older, as well as for certain immunocompromised individuals.
However, it remains available only through private purchase and is not funded by the HSE, reports RTE.
ARI’s Head of Policy and Advocacy, Alison Bough, said that access currently depends on an individual’s ability to pay, which creates inequality.
She noted that prices listed by pharmacies range from €450 to €487 for the two-dose course, with a typical cost of around €480, reports RTE.
Ms Bough added that travelling a short distance to Northern Ireland allows individuals to access the vaccine through a publicly funded programme.
She also said that in under two weeks, more than 20,000 ARI members had signed a petition calling for fair, State-supported access to the shingles vaccine, reports RTE.
A study by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) found the vaccine to be safe and effective, but concluded that at its current price, it does not represent good value for money.
Ms Bough has urged the Government to explore options to make the vaccine publicly funded or supported by the State, including negotiating pricing with manufacturers, reports RTE.
She told the committee that there is now a disconnect between official recommendations and actual access.
Ms Bough emphasised that shingles is not merely a short-term illness that resolves quickly, as it can have long-lasting and serious effects for many older people, reports RTE.
She further stated that vaccination for older individuals should be recognised as an important matter of prevention, fairness, and healthy ageing.
The Department of Health said that in February it asked the HSE to begin negotiations with vaccine manufacturers to assess whether it can be obtained at a cost-effective rate, and discussions are ongoing, reports RTE.
The department added that if an affordable solution is found, the HSE will present a proposal to the Department of Health for review and a final decision, reports RTE.
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