Ireland adds new vaccines to paediatric immunisation programme
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Ireland's Immunisation Guidelines 2008 has added two new vaccines to the primary childhood immunisation programme, and modified the timing of two other innoculations.Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) will be added to the programme, along with the addition of a hepatitis B vaccine to the 5 in 1 vaccine, which currently protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib and polio. Changes in the timing of administration of the meningococcal C and Haemophilus (Hib) vaccines have also been made, reflecting recommendations for their inclusion in primary immunisation schedules at three to four months. The programme, produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, serves to update the previous 2002 guidelines and help Ireland achieve its childhood immunisation goal of 95% uptake. Children are immunised free of charge under the programme.