Minister for Health announces government approval for MMR Catch-up Vaccination Programme
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 5 March 2024
- Last updated on: 8 March 2024
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that the government has agreed funding for an MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) catch-up vaccination programme.
This catch-up programme has been approved in response to a rise in measles cases in the UK and Europe. The Health Service Executive (HSE) will now begin to outline the programme details.
The following groups will be prioritised for vaccination, if not already vaccinated:
- children and young adults
- healthcare workers
- underserved groups such as refugees, applicants seeking protection and the homeless community
Vaccinations will be administered by GPs and HSE vaccination teams.
The new programme follows the establishment in November 2023 of the HSE’s MMR catch-up programme for children aged between 14 months and 10 years old inclusive, who may have missed out on their routine vaccines. This programme is still ongoing and is being offered through GPs.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said:
"I would encourage all those eligible for MMR vaccination to come forward and to avail of the opportunity to be protected 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."
Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth said:
"Measles is a highly infectious disease which can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.
"The only protection against measles is vaccination and MMR vaccine uptake in Ireland is currently too low to prevent measles from spreading.
"In serious cases, complications can include ear infections, pneumonia, febrile seizures and inflammation of the brain or encephalitis. It can also lead to death.
"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."
Further information in relation to MMR vaccination can be found on the HSE website.
Notes
The Measles vaccine in Ireland is given as part of the combined Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Two doses of MMR vaccine are included in the childhood immunisation schedule in Ireland:
- MMR Dose 1, given at 12 months of age in general practice
- MMR Dose 2, given at 4-5 years of age in junior infants in Primary Schools, by HSE school immunisation teams (or GPs in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal)
MMR uptake in Ireland is currently suboptimal and 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.