All newborn babies in Cork will routinely be offered the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis from next October, it has been announced.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said all parents will be offered information and advice about the vaccine prior to their baby's birth.
At the moment, the vaccine is offered in Cork only to newborns who are at risk of developing TB, the HSE said.
Dr Catherine Murphy, principal medical officer with the HSE in Cork, said: "We are pleased to be in a position whereby from October 2007 the BCG vaccine will be routinely available to all newborns in Cork.
"An implementation group has been established to oversee the roll-out of the vaccine," she said. "This will bring Cork in line with the current National HSE guidelines applied elsewhere in the country."
According to the HSE, the National Immunisation Guidelines state that the effectiveness of BCG in preventing TB has varied in reported studies over the year, but the HSE said it is recommended that neonatal BCG be continued.
Parents with queries about the vaccine may call the HSE customer information line in Cork at 1850 742000.