€4.6m jab plan to fight measles

A NEW €4.6million plan to offer more than 300,000 people a measles catchup vaccine will be presented to the Cabinet today by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

There have been outbreaks of measles across Europe in recent months. Ireland has had just one confirmed case so far, but it resulted in the death of a man in February.

Pat Gorman, 48, who worked as a bus driver with Bus Éireann, began feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms and a rash on February 1, following a trip to the UK. He was admitted to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, four days later and died on February 7.

He was the first person to die from measles in the country for over 20 years. His family have since pleaded with people to get the vaccine.

The HSE has said that, in general, people born in Ireland before 1978 are likely to have a natural immunity to measles due to their earlier exposure to the disease. However, it is estimated around 11% of the population between 18 and 34 are not immune.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under a year old, pregnant women and the immunosuppressed.

The catch-up programme would involve an intensive campaign over 12 to 13 weeks, delivering vaccination to a range of groups, including children and young people aged up to 24 years who were not fully vaccinated.

It will also include healthcare workers and underserved populations such as Travellers, Roma, homeless people, refugees, applicants seeking protection and other vulnerable migrants, as well as those in custodial settings.

The next priority group would be those aged 25 to 34, and then those who want it who were born after 1978. The new immunisation programme would be delivered mainly by GPs and occupational health staff.