Rollout out of HPV vaccine for boys must be guaranteed
Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has called on the Minister for Health to guarantee that the HPV vaccine for first year second level boys will be rolled out in September, and that the HSE recruitment embargo he has put in place won’t delay it.
Deputy Kelly said:
“I am calling on Minister for Health Simon Harris to guarantee that the rollout of the HPV vaccine for boys will proceed in September and that the resources will be put there to ensure sufficient staff are in place.
“The Labour Party secured a commitment in the Dáil last year following our unanimous motion, that the HPV vaccine would be rolled out to second level schoolboys. It is essential this happens to secure herd immunity and protect future generations.
“Commitments were given by the HSE on staff resources that now must be followed through on. People are at the heart of our health service and public health programmes cannot be delivered unless the appropriate professionals are in place.
“For example, the HSE had committed to hiring 160 public health nurses in 2019 but this is now being reduced to less than 100. The dispute now at the WRC is a clear example of how the blunt tool of a blanket recruitment embargo is having a drastic impact on public health services.
“Minister Harris has stood over his HSE recruitment embargo but this is another example of the real world impact the lack of health staff is having on public health services.”