Minister for Health Mary Harney this morning launched European Immunisation Week when she addressed 400 health professionals at the National Immunisation Conference in Croke Park Conference Centre.
The conference, organised by the Health Service Executive (HSE), also heard national and international speakers on topics including measles elimination, new recommendations for childhood vaccination and pneumococcal vaccines, which can prevent the likes of pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis.
"Immunisation is one of the single most effective health protection measures in history, and has transformed the health profile of children and adults worldwide", Ms Harney said.
Minister for Health Mary Harney
The Government will be paying particular attention to increasing the uptake of MMR jabs for infants as part of the World Health Organisation's European Regions strategic plan to reduce cases of measles, mumps and rubella.
Speaking at the conference today, Dr Kevin Kelleher, Health Protection, HSE said: "Whilst MMR uptake rates are improving, in 2006 the National uptake for MMR was 84 per cent.
"There are still pockets of low uptake and vulnerable groups around the country which need to be reached. The priority for the HSE is to achieve an uptake rate of 95 per cent for all primary immunisation, including MMR.
"In order to meet this challenge, the HSE National Immunisation Office is monitoring and encouraging vaccine uptake in low uptake areas, providing standardised information for parents and training materials for health care professionals."