Plea to parents over booster vaccine
Parents of young children were today urged to ensure they received a Hib booster vaccine in a bid to ward off serious diseases.
Under the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) vaccination campaign, the booster injection is offered to children aged between one and four-years to ward off serious Haemophilus influenza type B infections.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director of population health with the HSE, said: “I urge all parents who have children in the relevant age groups to get a Hib booster vaccine.
“The HSE is contacting the parents or guardians of all the children who require the booster, and asking them to visit their GP to receive the vaccine. Parents should also continue having their babies immunised at two, four and six months as recommended.
“The HSE strongly advises immunisation – it is a safe and effective way of preventing serious disease.”
The booster vaccine campaign was introduced after an increase in Hib infections among vaccinated children in the last three months of 2004, which continued in 2005.
Of the 15 Hib cases which occurred in children under 15 years of age in 2005, seven had meningitis and three had septicaemia. One child died due to Hib disease in 2005.
Health service bosses said 450,000 children have been vaccinated against Hib infections in Ireland since 1996 with 42 of those acquiring the disease despite being fully vaccinated.
As part of the second phase of the campaign, children aged two and three will be called to receive the Hib booster vaccine and parents will be given information from the health service on a time and place at which their child can avail of the booster injection.
Children aged between one and two were vaccinated last November as part of the first phase the campaign.
All children who reach one year of age during the campaign are also being offered the booster vaccine.
Information will also be available from a lo-call helpline at 1850 24 1850, which will operate during the campaign, which runs until May.
