Waterford councillors pass motion calling for free vaccine to tackle ‘nasty illness’

Waterford councillors have passed a motion which calls on the shingles vaccine to be made free for over 65s.

The motion was proposed by independent councillor Sandra Conway at the July plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

The motion begins by outlining the impact the disease can have on those who are infected.

It states: “The rate of incidence grows significantly as one gets older. When it infects, it causes painful neuralgias that generally last for months, sometimes years.

“It can cause blindness, deafness, paralysis and immunity weakening. There is now an established connection between shingles and the onset of dementias.”

READ NEXT: Frustration in Waterford over ‘administration charge’ being added to parking fees

It continues by saying that there is a vaccine for the disease but it is not free for older people in Ireland.

“In all this, there is the good news that there is an internationally acclaimed vaccine against shingles – it is called Shingrix.

“This is available free to over 65s in the USA, Australia and New Zealand and the UK and Northern Ireland - as well as in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Spain.

“The vaccine is licensed in Ireland here, but pensioners must bear the full cost of close on €500 for the two doses.”

The motion outlines the low in-take of the vaccine among Irish pensioners to date.

“To date, about 40,000 of over 65s in Ireland have availed of it, leaving over 800,000 outside the protection of vaccination.

“Active Retirement Ireland has research that indicates this low take-up is overwhelmingly down to the cost.

“The manufacturer of Shingrix, Glaxo Smith Kline, is on record as saying that it is prepared to enter an agreement with the HSE that will give the vaccine at a rate comparable with the reduced price that obtains in Northern Ireland and the UK.”

It goes on to highlight the impact that making the vaccine free would have in a number of areas.

“It would save on multiple hospitalisations, step down, surgery visits, and a litany of sickness that is just so easily avoidable.

“This motion stands alongside our older citizens when it asks that the Government should stand by over 65s and include the Shingles vaccine – free of charge – in our National Immunisation Programme.”

The motion concludes by requesting that if passed, it would be circulated to other local authorities for their consideration.

It was seconded by Fine Gael councillor Lola O’Sullivan, who described it as a “really positive motion” that could make a “big difference”.

Labour Party councillor John Pratt requested that the motion be amended to also call for the vaccine to be made free for those with disabilities.

This request was agreed to by Cllr Conway, as well as a number of other councillors present.

Independent councillor Joe Kelly described shingles as “extremely painful” and added that it can often affect an infected person for the rest of their life.

Similarly, Social Democrats councillor Mary Roche said it is a “nasty illness” which could be prevented.

At the end of the discussion, the motion was passed unanimously with the support of all the elected members present.