The Government has been urged to fund a new vaccine against pneumococcal disease for all children in the Republic, following its introduction in Northern Ireland. Diane O'Connell of the Meningitis Research Foundation said the vaccine was expensive but this should not be a consideration.
Pneumococcal disease includes life-threatening infections such as meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia.
A study published in 2004 indicated up to 132 lives could be saved annually if the Government incorporated a vaccination against pneumococcal disease as part of the childhood immunisation programme.
At present the vaccination is offered only to at-risk groups such as those with chronic heart or liver disease and those aged 65 or over.
"It costs more to vaccinate one child against pneumococcal disease than it costs for all the other vaccines in the childhood immunisation programme, but we would call on the Government to make the money available to protect children and save lives," Ms O'Connell said.
"It's now in the childhood immunisation programme in Northern Ireland and we would like it in the childhood immunisation schedule in the Republic, as soon as possible. It's a fantastic vaccine, is perfectly safe and reduces cases of pneumococcal disease by 80 per cent.
"This vaccine has been available in the US since 2000 and has reduced cases there by 94 per cent. It is now also given to children in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Denmark," she said.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has been investigating whether to introduce the vaccine, Prevenar, onto the childhood immunisation schedule in the Republic for well over a year, but Ms O'Connell said it was not known when it would make its decision.
The Health Service Executive said the NIAC was expected to reach its decision in the coming months.
"The HSE already provides a national vaccination programme against meningitis C [ meningococcal C]. Since the introduction of this scheme in 2003 there has been a marked reduction in the incidence of this disease," it said.
There is no vaccination against meningitis B, however, and, as a result, the Meningitis Research Foundation has urged parents to watch out for signs and symptoms of the condition. These may include a rash, dislike of bright lights, neck stiffness, severe headache and vomiting.
The new vaccine will be given to babies in the North and there is a "catch up" programme for children aged up to two years.
Dr Lorraine Doherty, senior medical officer in the North's Department of Health, said: "This change is being made now to ensure that young people throughout Northern Ireland are being offered protection against very serious, vaccine-preventable diseases."