An outbreak of measles in the Midland Health Board area has worsened considerably in recent days with more than 70 cases of the disease now reported.
Yesterday, the director of the National Disease Surveillance Centre, Dr Darina O'Flanagan, met the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to discuss ways of improving uptake of the MMR vaccine.
Dr O'Flanagan told him there had been a further 49 cases of measles in the past week which she said were related to low uptake of the vaccine.
She discussed possible interventions with the Minister but said her proposal to link child-benefit payments to vaccine take-up would not work unless a proper computerised data system was put in place.
The Minister, who shares Dr O'Flanagan's concerns about low MMR uptake, plans to meet the chairman of the health boards' immunisation committee, Mr Sean Hurley, next week to discuss ways to improve uptake across the State.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said the idea of linking child benefit to vaccine take-up would have to be discussed with other Government departments on which it impacted, including the Departments of Education and Social and Family Affairs.
This outbreak is concentrated mainly in Co Westmeath. In excess of 60 per cent of cases have occurred among 6- to 12-year-olds and 30 per cent in children under five years old.
"As there are many unvaccinated children in the community, many more are vulnerable to measles and its complications," a health board spokeswoman said, before urging parents to have their children immunised immediately.
Vaccination is free of charge and available from GPs.
Measles can be a serious, even a life-threatening illness. A large outbreak in the east in 2000 led to three deaths and just over 350 hospital admissions.