Minister should resign or be sacked over vaccine comments

Local GP and Save Navan Hospital campaigner Dr Ruairi Hanley has blasted the ongoing campaign against the lifesaving HPV cervical cancer vaccine which he said is based on “fake news, misinformation and tragic misunderstanding”.

As the HSE launches a major public information campaign encouraging parents to get their daughters vaccinated with uptake levels at around just 50 per cent last year, Dr Hanley is also urging parents to get the vaccine for their daughters.
He has also strongly criticised Independent TD and Junior Minister in the Department of Health Finian McGrath. “It beggars belief that any politician would openly call for a life saving cancer vaccine to be withdrawn. Yet that is exactly what Finian McGrath did a year ago. Now he is junior minister for health. It seems he is rowing back on this view, nonetheless in my own opinion this man should be sacked or resign.”
The HSE last week launched the 2017/18 Schools HPV Vaccine Programme and Information Campaign. While uptake levels were at 90 per cent two years ago, this fell to around 50 per cent last year.
Dr Hanley said: “The HPV / Cervical cancer vaccine is safe, there is no debate about this. It has been used over 200 million times around the world and has been studied more than any other vaccine.
“The ongoing campaign against this vaccine is based on fake news, misinformation and tragic misunderstanding. People are blaming the vaccine for unrelated illnesses that having nothing to do with it.”
He added that it is “shocking and depressing” that so many people are ignoring the advice of every expert organisation in Ireland - and across the world- and are listening instead to internet based misinformation .
“The Irish Cancer Society says that 40 young women will die as a result of anti-vaccine scaremongering and the drop in uptake rates. That is a national disgrace. I urge all parents to just listen to the facts. “The proof is there for all to see. There is no conspiracy - this is safe. Get the vaccine for your daughters - it may save their lives.”
Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, HSE National Director, Health and Wellbeing, said that over 40,000 information packs will be delivered across the country in advance of the HSE Vaccination Teams starting their scheduled post primary school visits in September where first year girls will get the first of two doses of the vaccine.
“We know that there are many conflicting and misleading sources of information out there.
The only Irish website containing information that has been formally accredited by the WHO is hpv.ie. We strongly urge all parents, teenagers, and interested parties to visit this trusted source where they will learn about the vaccine - how it saves lives and its excellent safety record.
Their local vaccination teams are there to support them and answer any questions, along with their local GPs and local pharmacists,” said Dr O'Keeffe.
In the 2015/2016 school year, 429 Meath schoolgirls declined the offer of the free vaccine.
This meant just 69.3 per cent of girls eligible to receive the vaccine actually got it, down from 91.7 per cent the previous year.