Cork Fine Gael T.D. Deirdre Clune has called on the HSE and the Minister for Health to confirm that the BCG vaccine, which protects against TB, will now be provided to the children in Crab Lane School who have been screened and have been found to be clear of TB.

As a result of the TB outbreak 220 pupils and staff in Crab Lane National School had to be screened and at the last estimate 25 of these were positive and are on medication. It is now essential that the HSE and the Minister for Health confirm that the BCG vaccine will urgently be provided to the children who were screened and found to be TB free.

The two weeks have been very difficult time for the children, their parents and their extended families. Parents are understandably worried about their children’s health. Providing a vaccination to the children would go along way to easing their parent’s fears.

The local HSE staff carried out the difficult task of screening those at risk with speed and efficiency. The onus is now on the HSE management and the Minister for Health to match this speed and efficiency and authorise the immediate provision of the BCG vaccine to the children involved.

Many children in Cork have no protection against TB because babies born in Cork were not offered the BCG vaccination. Unlike other parts of the country the provision of the BCG vaccination to babies born in Cork hospitals was suspended for over thirty years and was only reintroduced in 2008 following TB outbreaks in two Cork crèches which resulted in 15 children and 2 adults being infected and hundreds of children requiring screening.