Government cannot ignore vaccine damaged children – Naughten

In Health by Denis Naughten

The Government can no longer ignore children who have been damaged by State-promoted vaccine programmes and must introduce a no fault compensation scheme without delay, according to Denis Naughten TD.

Addressing the Taoiseach earlier today (Wednesday) in the Dáil, Denis Naughten called on the Government to expedite its plans to introduce a support scheme for vaccine damaged children to ensure that the proper support services are put in place immediately. 

“It is now 11-and-a-half years since I had a meeting with then Health Minister Micheal Martin and his officials on this issue yet the parents of these profoundly disabled children are still waiting for action,” Denis Naughten told the Dáil.

“To his credit the current Health Minister has committed to establishing such a scheme, but it seems that the issue lacks priority with Departmental officials who have been one report away from action over the last decade.

“These children have been damaged by State-promoted vaccination programmes. Many of these people are now in their 40s and early 50s and their parents are elderly. It is putting a tremendous strain on these parents who do not know what is going to happen to their children and who will care for them when they are no longer able to sustain the 24 hour a day, seven day a week care they have been providing up to now.

“We are now the only country in Europe that does not have a no fault compensation scheme in place for State-supported vaccination programmes and that is unacceptable. In the UK, the British Government has established a no-fault compensation scheme for children damaged by State vaccination programmes. While the Irish Government in 1982 did offer a once off ex-gratia payment of £10,000 to 16 parents of vaccine damaged children this is totally inadequate to cater for the long-term needs of children who were literally damaged by the State itself. 

“Many of those children were profoundly disabled. Their parents are now becoming elderly and are extremely concerned about what will happen to their son or daughter. It is about time that we lived up to the moral responsibility of taking care of those who were damaged by State-promoted vaccination programmes rather than trying to hide them away in a dark corner.”

 

Dáil Eireann 9th October 2013

Order of Business

Deputy Denis Naughten: There are in excess of 100 individuals throughout the country who, when they were children, were profoundly disabled following the administration of State-supported vaccination programmes.  Many of them are now in their late 40s and early 50s and their elderly parents want to know what is going to happen when they are no longer around.  Since I met the then Minister, Deputy Martin, and current Leader of the Opposition, 11 and a half years ago, the Department of Health has been considering this issue.  In fairness, the current Minister, Deputy Reilly, provided a commitment, during a radio interview on 19 September last, to bring forward legislation in this area in order to facilitate the introduction of a no-fault compensation scheme for individuals who have suffered as a result of the administration of State-promoted vaccines.  When will this legislation be brought forward?  Is there any mechanism by means of which we might expedite matters?  The families involved have waited long enough for the truth and they need this matter to be dealt with expeditiously.  They are so frustrated that they are talking about coming to the gates of Leinster House in order to protest.  None of us want that to happen.  I request that the Minister for Health ensure that the legislation in question be dealt with as quickly as possible.

The Taoiseach: Deputy Naughten has raised this matter on a number of previous occasions.  These parents are not the only ones concerned about their children.  I empathise with the families of the 100 individuals who were severely disabled.  I recall the discussions which took place on this matter in the past and the tragic consequences to which the administration of a particular vaccine gave rise.  The legislation that will be taken between now and the Christmas recess has been approved.  I cannot inform the Deputy as to when the Minister for Health intends to bring forward the heads of a Bill relating to this matter before Government.  If they are brought forward in the new year, then obviously the new system for dealing with legislation will apply and the relevant committee will consider whether hearings should take place in respect of this matter.  I will ask the Minister to respond to the Deputy in due course.  However, legislation relating to this issue has certainly not come before Cabinet as yet.

 

Background briefing : https://denisnaughten.ie/2013/02/05/vaccine-damage-compensation-fund-update-january-2013/

 

Timeline

In December 2007 the Minister stated that she would have a report on the issue of compensation ‘shortly’. Now 12 months later she is still throwing out the same answer, and turning her back on children who have been profoundly brain damaged by a State promoted vaccination programme.

“This Government has dragged its heels on this issue for years on end, even when the finances were available to provide for the people.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in its report on Childhood Immunisation (July 2001) considered that “….. in the light of the huge benefits of immunisation and the small number of children who experience serious adverse reactions that a no-fault compensation scheme should be introduced in Ireland”. They recommended that legislation to provide for a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Scheme should be drawn up.

In Spring 2002, the then Minister for Health, Micheal Martin, gave a commitment to investigate the feasibility of providing support for parents, but more especially their children who were damaged by State vaccinations.

This led to the Department of Health investigating Vaccine Damage Compensation Schemes in place in a number of other countries and this study was completed in 2004. In June of 2005 then Minister Mary Harney stated that the Department planned to be in a position to recommend the most suitable model for an Irish scheme by October 2005.

“By October 2005 the Department officials were ‘continuing to examine the feasibility of introducing a Vaccine Damage Compensation scheme’.

“Then in 2006 the Minister stated that her officials are to complete the examination of the feasibility of introducing a Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme by September 2006.

The Vaccine Damage Steering Group was subsequently established by the Department of Health and Children in 2007 to examine this issue. The Group included representatives from the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive (Health Protection Surveillance Centre, National Immunisation Office and Quality and Risk), the Irish Medicines Board and the State Claims Agency.

 

The terms of reference were to identify and define the adverse events following immunisation with certain vaccines, the feasibility of estimating the number of recipients of vaccination programmes who experienced adverse reactions, identify the most relevant model of vaccine damage compensation, likely cost and make recommendations. The terms of reference did not include an examination of whether or not a compensation scheme was warranted.

 

The Vaccine Damage Steering Group report was published in 2009 and recommended the introduction of a no fault vaccine damage compensation scheme. All vaccines provided as part of public immunisation programmes in line with NIAC guidance would be part of the scheme, including future vaccines.