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THE GOVERNMENT HAS agreed funding for an MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) catch-up vaccination programme, the Department of Health has announced.
This catch-up programme, which is estimated to cost €4.6 million, has been approved because of the public health threat from measles. The HSE will now begin to outline the programme details.
There continues to be an increase in measles cases in the UK and across Europe. However, to date just one case of measles has been confirmed in Ireland this year – this was the first measles death in over 20 years.
Some 310,000 people will be eligible for the catch-up vaccine, which will be administered by GPs and HSE vaccination teams.
Under the new programme, which will run for 12-13 weeks, children and young adults not already vaccinated will be prioritised for vaccination.
The next priority group would be healthcare workers, followed by underserved groups such as homeless people, refugees and international protection applicants.
I'm encouraging all those offered an MMR vaccine to take it. We need to protect everyone from the high risk of measles with the rise in cases internationally. @HSELive will outline the details of the catch-up programme shortly. https://t.co/xP6pxGCdmC
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) March 5, 2024
Since November, a catch-up programme for children aged between 14 months and 10 years has been in place, while the second MMR vaccine was brought forward to the first term of the school year to boost the protection of children.
Confirming the news today, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly encouraged all those eligible for the MMR vaccine to avail of it “during a time when measles cases are on the rise internationally and the risk of transmission of measles in Ireland is high” due to lower MMR uptake.
“It is very important that we protect ourselves and those around us from the risks posed by this highly contagious viral disease,” he said.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.
It typically starts with cold-like symptoms that develop about 10 days after a person gets infected. The person will get a rash a few days later.
The illness usually lasts for seven to 10 days.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth said: “The only protection against measles is vaccination and MMR vaccine uptake in Ireland is currently too low to prevent measles from spreading.
“Vaccination protects all of us, and particularly those who are vulnerable. With the recent rise in measles cases in the UK and Europe, I am urging all eligible persons who have not been vaccinated to avail of this opportunity to protect ourselves and those around us.”
MMR uptake in Ireland is currently less than the 95% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO has warned about the increased risk of measles infections in children because of suboptimal MMR vaccination uptake rates following reductions in immunisation coverage.
Those born in Ireland before 1978 are likely to have immunity to measles.
Here’s everything else you should know about measles.
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Fair play to people for stepping up and making their voices heard, as per usual the vulnerable people are targeted by this shiteheap of government
By not investing in early intervention and by not putting adequate resources into special education, we’re essentially costing the state more in future costs. But we don’t need an economic argument for this one. A bit of compassion from the government is what we need.
It’s a sad state of affairs when the state that represents us the Irish people turn on the weakest and most vunerable and make them share in the pain. Saying everybody must share in the pain does not make this assult on the truely disadvantaged acceptable or right.
Aye, Kerry Blake. No probs making these cuts yet they had no probs giving your man, that overfed looking baboon, a E700k+ golden handshake & a pension for life of around E2,300 per “week”. Never any probs whatsoever, constitutional, legal or otherwise, from cutting vital services & support for those who genuinely need it.
I’m so sick and f*cking tired of this Government targeting the most vulnerable in society. They got a right kicking when they tried to remove the medical card from the elderly. Therefore, if you feel strongly about this issue, get up and come to this demonstration next Wednesday. Vent your frustration and anger there and not in the comment section here. I consider myself lucky that my daughter has an SNA in her class even though she has to share her with 4 other kids. Without an SNA, I’d hate to think how difficult it would be for her teacher with a class of 29 kids. Don’t forget, this is an educational issue with EVERY kid affected, not just kids who have special needs.
Medical card fiasco was FF not current gov.
Would love to but sure I have a job and I’m told am very lucky to have one as well. The government should only be looking after the vulnerable and stop giving hand outs to those who can look after themselves. Makes me sick how people are moaning that they have to pay for their own third-level education and the really vulnerable persons in society and left to fend for themselves. A bit of perspective is seriously needed!!
I’m no expert in education, but is sharing a SNA a “devastating” situation? Obviously it’s better to have one SNA per pupil but it still represents a large effort to help those with special needs. Other pupils will share a teacher with up to 29 other pupils.
David. Not having an SNA means that the child who has it falls back further, the teacher has less time to bring on the other 29.
This is just typical FG/FF stuff, target the lowest and smallest fruit, even if it damages our education system, rather than face up to corruption and criminality at the top.
Aren’t we all happy that the Anglo Irish investigation is running at 940 days at this stage. Who here believes that anyone will ever be held accountable here. It is like Brian Lenihan targeting the Blind and disabled pension, while announcing on Christmas Day, that the very top of the Civil Service, the political appointee’s, the FF chums were being exempted from the pension levy. The people who earn 3-400 thousand a year. Gangsters like him got us in to this mess, don’t follow their example.
The Co-alition is bringing in a salary cap at the top and reform of pension and severance. You’re right that Lenihan protected those at the top, but FG won’t be continuing that. Brian Hayes made that very clear yesterday.
I’m not happy that the Anglo investigation is taking as long as it is but it is said to be coming to and end and we should see something emerge soon. It’s a private investigation. I wish we all knew more about it but such a complex investigation was always going to take some time.
FG is not targeting the most vulnerable. Everyone is taking a share of the pain. Sadly we can’t exclude anybody in this situation. I wish we could.
The fact is we Do Not cherish our children……………..But the taxpayer pay for private schools for other children. yours are just worthless. We value the elite.
Ireland the banana republic.
@shammcsham sorry mate I know for a fact that this is true.
Where could I get a list of all the TDs that voted for these shocking cuts? The knock in effects of SNA cuts to mainstream schools means more SN Schools will need to be built the up and down the country Crazy!!!!!!
You can contact them through http://www.contact.ie
In relation to SNA provision it was FF who increased SNAs in the first place. There were too many in the system as kids who moved on or left the system left the SNA in the school. Hence the SNAs turned into well paid classroom assistants.
Not true, when the child is gone, the SNA position is gone. Full stop, end of story.
It may have been a different party in power but my point is valid. As far as SNA’s being kept employed even if there isn’t a role for them, that’s ridiculous. I personally know SNA’s, part time and full time that have lost their jobs or had their hours severly cut. This is despite a school report proving the necessity of their employment. My own daughter and many, many more kids have an educational and legal right to special needs assistance. As it is, she has to share her SNA with 4 other kids. I’m thankful she at least has that.
@David. We’d gladly share an SNA with another child in his class. Last June we were told that our 5 year old son would share an SNA with a child in another class. Not ideal but better than nothing. We return to school in September to find his hours have not been sanctioned.
He has severe ADHD and sensory issues and we were told by the SENO that SNAs are not for children with behavioral difficulties but for children with physical needs needing help at the toilet etc.
This is a load of crap in my opinion. They are now discounting all the kids with similar disorders and saying that they are not needing SNA help. Well the 10 children that my son lashed out at last year because of his condition say he does!!
i’m a mother of 3 special needs boys and a little girl who’s being tested for dxyslesia . my older boys attend Scoil Chairain, a special needs school, they have lost sna’s due to cut backs. my youngest son is autistic and there’s no secondary school t o send m y son to. I wish every member of the government lived my 24 hours. When did we target the vunerable to please Europe and angela merkel .
have your say