Fine Gael TD Mr Denis Naughten has called for a full-scale public inquiry in response to revelations that a further batch of vaccines intended for animals was in fact administered to children in the early 1970s.
Mr Naughten described as "earth shattering" an admission producers of the vaccine, GlaxoSmithKlyne, that at least two children have been affected. He called on the Government to take off the ‘kids gloves’ and initiate a full inquiry.
The revelations follow yesterday’s answer to a Private Notice Question put to the Minister of Health by Mr Naugten regarding the circumstances surrounding the administration of the vaccine.
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GlaxoSmithKline, following inquires by the Minister, submitted a summary report to the Dail which confirmed that not one but two children had been administered the animal vaccine Tribovax-T.
GlaxoSmithKline has blamed a transcription error on the numbering of the vaccine batches for causing the error.
"Glaxoinadvertently gave the Dail evidence that not one, but two children that we know for definite were given the vaccine," Mr Naughton told ireland.com
"Had they not pointed out the second case, the Dail would still be only aware of the first one.
"If this is the case, it beggars the question as to how many other children received the cattle vaccine."
Mr Naughten is also seeking information as to what the results of an investigation into the adverse reaction by children to vaccines administered to them during this period and what efforts have been made to attempt to assess whether these adverse reactions were also the result of the wrongful administration of the vaccine.
In addition, he is seeking to discover whether the administration of the cattle vaccine occurred during the context of a clinical trial, or as part of a vaccination programme.
"Following yesterday’s admission in the Dail there is now serious concern over the extent to which animal vaccine was administered to children at the time . . .[and] how many more batches of the vaccine have made their way into Irish health clinics . . ."
"While the company are claiming this was a transcription error, if this was the case why was the Eastern Health Board not informed of this mistake at the time so that vaccination records were corrected.. . .
"There is now an unanswerable case for a full sworn public inquiry," he added.
GlaxoSmithKline were not available for comment this evening.