FG claims 10,000 babies still awaiting TB vaccine in Cork

Fine Gael has called on the Minister for Health Mary Harney and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to take immediate action to reduce waiting times for the BCG vaccine in Cork.

The party claims that there are still 10,000 babies waiting to receive the vaccine in the county.

Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central Deirdre Clune said today parents are being forced to bring their children to neighbouring counties in order to get the BCG vaccine and she warned of the dangers posed by tuberculosis (TB).

"I have met parents who have brought their babies to counties like Waterford and Kerry to receive the vaccine. The fact that babies in Cork are denied a vital vaccine solely on the basis of the county in which they were born is totally unacceptable," said Ms Clune.

Earlier this year, Fine Gael accused the Minister for Health of failing to recognise the health risks posed by TB after it emerged that many newborn babies and toddlers were awaiting vaccination in Cork.

An outbreak of TB in two Cork creches last year resulted in 18 children and three adults being diagnosed with the potentially fatal disease.

Earlier this year it was announced that a full tuberculosis service was to resume in Cork with the opening of a new laboratory at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). Last year, the existing TB laboratory, which was housed in a temporary prefab, was forced to close due to the poor standard of its facilities.

“The BCG vaccine is administered to newborn babies to prevent TB and a commitment was given that all newborn babies in Cork would have access to the vaccine by October 2007. Despite this promise, almost a year later Cork’s newborn babies do not have access to the vaccine and 10,000 Cork babies are now on a waiting list for the TB vaccine," said Ms Clune.

"Despite this the Government and the HSE continue to refuse to accept that a serious problem exists because of their mismanagement and refuse to make resolving this a priority," she added.

Fine Gael said it will be raising the vaccine issue directly with the Minister for Health when the Dáil resumes next month.

HSE South admitted this afternoon that an increased demand for the BCG vaccine and a delay caused by difficulties in obtaining supplies of vaccine in Europe had led to an increase in the waiting list in Cork. 

However, it said that the supply of vaccine has recommenced and that new arrangements to address the situation through the establishment of a neonatal service to newborns in CUMH where the BCG vaccination will be available, are at an "advanced stage."

It added that staff are currently being recruited for the service, which is scheduled to start in Autumn.

Meanwhile, additional clinics are running throughout the region and  parents can contact their local health office to have their children's names added to the waiting list, HSE South said.